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1997-12-16 Regular MeetingI. CALL TO ORDER: - Mayor: December 16, 1997, City Council Regular Meeting, 12 o'clock noon. CITY OF OKEECHOBEE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Mayor Kirk called the December 16, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting to order at 12 o'clock noon. II. OPENING CEREMONIES: Invocation offered by Reverend Gillen of the Faith Presbyterian Church; Reverend Richard Gillen offered the invocation; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor. I Mayor Kirk led the Pledge of Allegiance. III. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF ATTENDANCE - City Clerk. Clerk Thomas called the roll: Mayor James E. Kirk Present Council Member Noel A, Chandler Present Council Member Lowry Markham Present Council Member Robert Oliver Present Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Present City Attorney John R. Cook Present City Administrator Robert J. Bradshaw Present City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Present Deputy Cleric S. Lane Gamiotea Present 475 PAGE 1 OF 5 IV. MINUTES - City Clerk. A. Motion to dispense with the reading and approve the Council Member Chandler moved to dispense with the reading and approve the Summary of Council Action for the Regular Summary of Council Action for the Regular Meeting of Meeting of December 2, 1997; seconded by Council Member Markham. There being no discussion on this item, vote was as December 2,1997. 11 follows: KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER • YES WATFORD - YES MOTION CARRIED. 476 DECEMBER 16,1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 5 V. WARRANT REGISTER - City Administrator. A. Motion to approve the October, 1997 General Fund Council Member Watford moved to approve the October, 1997 Warrant Registers in the following amounts: seven hundred fifty - Warrant Register in the amount of $756,047.48 and the six thousand, forty-seven dollars, forty-eight cents ($756,047.48) for General Fund and five thousand, one hundred forty-four Public Facilities Improvement Fund Warrant Register in dollars, twenty-two cents ($5,144.22) for Public Facilities Improvement Fund; seconded by Council Member Oliver. There being the amount of $5,144.22. 11 no discussion on this item, vote was as follows: KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - YES MOTION CARRIED. VI. AGENDA -Mayor. A. Requests for the addition, deferral or withdrawal of items Mayor Kirk asked whether there were any requests for additions, deferrals or withdrawals of items on today's agenda. Mayor Kirk on today's agenda. withdrew the proclamation to be presented at a later date. City Administrator requested to add new business item "C" to approve the temporary closing of Southwest 3rd Avenue between North and South Park Streets, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Christmas Annual Arts and Crafts Show, Chamber of Commerce - (Exhibit 4). VII. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION - Mayor. A. "Bill of Rights" Day Proclamation presented to Sheriff This item was withdrawn from the agenda. Miller. VIII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. A. Discuss approving new Signal 4 Dispatch Guidelines for Council Member Chandler asked for the Council to direct the staff to implement the new guidelines for dispatching the City Fire the Fire Department - Council Member Chandler (Exhibit Department on Signal-4 Calls. This item was discussed at the last meeting. The motion to implement the guidelines died due to 1). a be vote. The current guidelines were adopted March 17,1993. The change from the current guidelines to the revised ones are that when dispatch receives an accident call with possible or definite injuries the Fire Department is to be dispatched immediately after the road patrol officer. If there are no or unknown injuries the Fire Department is placed on standby to wait for disposition from the officer. The officer may cancel the Fire Department if there are no injuries. However, an officer can dispatch the Fire Department without injuries on accidents with heavy front-end damage to any vehicle. If a person involved in an accident claims they are hurt but does not request an ambulance, the Firefighters are certified Emergency Medical Technicians and can determine if a person should seek medical treatment. This prevents officers from making medical decisions that they are not trained in as the firefighters are. They can provide basic life support care, assist the paramedics and assist in traffic control. Staff also explained the Fire Department will be doing the same job they are doing only more often because the current guideline require the road patrol officer to determine the necessity of having the fire department respond. DECEMBER 16,1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 0 F 5 477 4 \III. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. A. Discuss approving new Signal 4 Dispatch Guidelines for Mayor Kirk advised he was not at the last meeting but did read the minutes, he has talked with Fire Chief Tomey on this issue the Fire Department continued. and agrees the City Fire Department is under-utilized. He felt this was something that could be implemented and reviewed after the County Fire Study is completed. Council Members Oliver and Watford raised concerns whether there was a need for implementing the new guidelines; having too many people at a scene; and the historic/tradition of the mission" of the Fire Department which has been to fight fires only. County Administrator George Long addressed Council Member Oliver's questions as to how the County stood on the issue. Mr. Long advised thatthe County has no desire to get into the middle of this dispute. It is not a City/County issue but an issue for the Council to decide on. The County will continue to work with the City on whatever the final decision is. Discussion ensued. Council instructed Chief Tomey to submit a report to them by the next Council Meeting listing the amount of calls for the past ninety (90) days, how many required an ambulance, the response time of the ambulance and if the City Fire Department was dispatched. Mayor Kirk wanted to make it clear that this is not being done in a negative way but that the need for the new guidelines should be there. IX. NEW BUSINESS A. Motion to adopt proposed Resolution No. 97-6 concerning Council Member Oliver moved to adopt proposed Resolution No. 97-6 concerning an agreement between the City of an agreement between the City of Okeechobee, SunTrust Okeechobee, SunTrust Bank and Okeechobee Ford Motor Company for the Police Car Leasing Program; seconded by Council Bank and Okeechobee Ford Motor Company for the Member Markham. Police Car Leasing Program - City Administrator (Exhibit 2). Council Member Watford advised he will be abstaining from voting since his employer submitted a bid for this item. Council Member Oliver pointed out that the low bidders, whom the bid was being awarded were both locally operated. KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - ABSTAINED MOTION CARRIED. 478 DECEMBER 16,1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 5 IX. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED B. Discuss closing the Alleyway running East to West in Okeechobee Development I, Inc. submitted an alley closing application for the alleyway running East to West in Block 155, City Block 155, City of Okeechobee as requested by of Okeechobee. This block is the proposed site for a new Walgreens Drug Store. All utility companies have signed off that they Okeechobee Development I, Inc. - City Clerk (Exhibit 3). would require an easement since they have lines running through the alleyway. Attorney Cook advised the Council that an easement will have to be addressed in the ordinance for closing the alleyway. Mr. Brian West, developer addressed the Council explaining that he was aware of the objections and requests from the utility companies. However, if the City leaves an easement it may put their position with Sprint for the relocation of the fiber optic lines in a weaker position. The developer is currently disputing with Sprint as to who is financially responsible for moving those lines as well as the ones in the North to South alleyway. There was a brief discussion between the Council, Mr. West and Mr. Jeff Hutchinson and Jim Nedless (employees of Sprint who advised they were present on their own representation as County residents opposing the project). Okeechobee Utility Authority Executive Director, L.C. Fortner advised the Council the OUA did not oppose the closing of the alley as long as the City leaves an easement until the water and wastewater lines are relocated. Attorney Cook stated to Mr. West that the he has advised the City not to take action until an indemnity agreement is signed between the City and Westco not holding the City responsible for moving of any utilities. Council Member Markham moved to table; seconded by Council Member Oliver. KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER - YES WATFORD - ABSTAINED MOTION CARRIED. C. Motion to approve the temporary closing of Southwest 3rd Council Member Markham moved to approve the temporary closing of Southwest 3rd Avenue between North and South Park Avenue between North and South Park Streets, 8:00 a.m. Streets, December 20, 1997, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Christmas Annual Arts and Crafts Show, Chamber of Commerce; to 5:00 p.m. for the Christmas Annual Arts and Crafts seconded by Council Member Oliver. There being no discussion on the item, the vote was as follows: Show, Chamber of Commerce - City Administrator (Exhibit 4). KIRK - YES CHANDLER - YES MARKHAM - YES OLIVER, YES WATFORD - YES MOTION CARRIED. DECEMBER 16,1997 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 5 4 7 9 X. 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 includ testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. ATTEST: JAMES E. KIRK, MAYOR BONNIE S. THOMAS, CMC, CITY CLERK There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Kirk adjourned the December 16, 1997 Regular Meeting at 12:52 p.m.