1991-11-19 Regular MeetingC I T Y O F 0 K E E C H 0 B E E
C I T Y C 0 U N C I L M E E T I N G
NOVEMBER 19, 1991 - 7:00 P.M.
SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION
Dnno T ni A
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION
VOTE
AB�ENi
yES
NO
Mayor Kirk called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M.
A. Call meeting to order.
B. Invocation offered by Reverend John Hirst;
Invocation offered by Reverend John Hirst;
Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk.
Mayor Kirk led the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Mayor and Council attendance:
Mayor James "Jim" Kirk
Present
x
Councilmember R.R. "Nick" Collins
Present
x
Councilmember Danny Entry
Present
x
Councilmember Jerry E. Walker
Present
x
Councilman Dowling R. Watford, Jr.
Present
x
Staff attendance:
Attorney John R. Cook
Present
x
Administrator John J. Drago
Present
x
Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas
Present
x
Deputy Clerk S. Lane Earnest
Present
x
D. Motion to dispense with reading and approve
Councilmember Collins made a motion to dispense with reading and
the Summary of Council Action for the
approve the Summary of Council Action for the regular meeting of
regular meeting of November 5, 1991.
November 5, 1991; seconded by Councilmember Entry.
KIRK
x
COLLINS
x
ENTRY
x
WALKER
x
WATFORD
x
MOTION CARRIED.
I
E. Motion to approve warrant registers for
October, 11991.
General Fund ..... .$ 563,040.20
Public Utilities..$1,110,038.55
REQUEST FOR THE ADDITION, DEFERRAL OR
WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
F. NEW BUSINESS
1. Motion to appoint Andrew Silvas as a
new Meter Reader - Director of Public
Utilities.
2. Consider Final Plan approval of Phase II
of Blue Heron Golf and Country Club -
James Baughman (Exhibit 1).
November 79, 1991 - R
arc Meeting - Page 2 o{ 6
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION
Councilmember Watford made a motion to approve warrant registers
for the month of October, '1991, General Fund $563.040.20 and
Public Utilities $1,110,038.55; seconded by Councilmember Entry.
KIRK
COLLINS
ENTRY
WALKER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
None.
Councilmember Watford made a motion to appoint Andrew Silvas as
a new Meter Reader; seconded by Councilmember Collins.
KIRK
COLLINS
ENTRY
WALKER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
Following brief discussion among Developer Jim Baughman, Council
and Staff, Councilmember Watford made a motion to approve the
final plat of Phase II of the Blue Heron Golf and Country Club;
seconded by Councilmembers Entry and Collins.
KIRK
COLLINS
ENTRY
WALKER
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
VOTE
9ES 1 NO
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
u .. L is i(ni T) 0 11nn - _ 1) n 2 nL A
F. NEW BUSINESS
COUNCHMEMBERS/ACTION
VOTE
ABSENT
VES
NO
6. Discuss Water and Sewer connection fees
Councilmember Collins made a motion that any amount of money that
- Councilmember Collins (Exhibit 5).
has been paid (the $1584.00) should be refunded the difference
($819.00) by amending Resolution 91-5; seconded by Councilmember
Entry.
Citizens Linda Wilcox, Sylvia Bandi, Steve Nelson, Steve Rogers,
and Rose Marie Bonnell appeared before the Council requesting
that the Council reimburse them the difference from the higher
fee that they paid ($1584.00) to the new fee ($765.00).
After much discussion among Council, staff and Phil Gonot, PMG
Associates representative, concerning the rate study that will
be presented at the next regular Council meeting (December 3,
1991), Councilmember Entry withdrew his second to the motion,
Councilmember Collins withdrew his motion.
Councilmember Collins then made a motion to put on hold all
deposit upgrades, connection fees, capacity fees, anything that
has to do with rates until we get the study from PMG Associates
in two weeks. Motion died for lack of second.
Following further discussion, Councilmember Collins made a
motion that Resolution 91-5 be amended so that those customers
with 4-inch sewer and 3/4-inch water already connected and have
paid (Public Utilities Director Loftin has complied a list of
these customers and their hook-up dates), that any amounts these
people have paid over $765.00 be refunded with the understanding
that those paid by contractors will have to be reviewed
individually to see if the money should go back to the
contractor or to go back to the home owner; seconded by
Councilmember Walker.
KIRK
X
COLLINS
X
X
ENTRY
X
WALKER
X
WATFORD
MOTION CARRIED.
RECESS: 8:15 P.M. - - RECONVENED: 8:23 P.M.
F. NEW BUSINESS
NOVMDeA IV. - -
COUNCILMEMBBRS/ACTION
VOTf
AEENT
VES
NO
3. Discuss the proposed letter to Leland
Councilmember Watford began discussion by expressing that he did
Pearce of Okeechobee Beach Water
not feel what the City was proposing in the letter to Okeechobee
Association regarding contract
Beach Water Association was much different than what they are
proposals - City Administrator
already paying. The public has expressed they do not think
(Exhibit 2).
Okeechobee Beach Water Association is paying their fair share and
Okeechobee Beach Water Association has made it extremely clear
they do not wish to be a future customer of the City.
There was a brief discussion among Council and Phil Gonot of PMG
Associates who is currently compiling a rate study for the City
and stated he felt the offer stated in the letter to Okeechobee
Beach Water Association was fair to both sides.
Attorney Cook commented that in his meetings with Okeechobee
Beach Water Association representatives, their problem is not
with the rate we charge for the water but the fact that they
feel they will be in a long term contract with the City and they
do not want to be "held at the mercy of the City" when and if we
C
decide to borrow more money and their debt service fee will
^1
increase.
C'
After further discussion among Council, Councilmembers Collins,
Entry, Walker and Mayor Kirk agreed to send the proposed letter.
Councilmember Watford did not feel the fees were correct.
4. Discuss the feasibility of future
Mr. Robbie Hoover, a representative of the Business Council,
City expenditures for water/sewer
appeared before the Council. Mr. Hoover began by saying he
facilities - Tom Hebel, Business
appreciated the opportunity to speak to the Council. His topic
Council Chairman (Exhibit 3).
was concerning future planning and payment for sewer and water
utility service.
The Business Council and business people are very, concerned
about the availability of water and sewer service in the City
and County. We know it is one of the corner stones in new
growth and development. It is a subject that has been the topic
of debate for the last three or four years.
Al—n—Anh 10 1001 _ Dn —P,P, kin ntiinn _ Dnnn S nL <,
F. NEW BUSINESS
COUNCILMFMBCRS/ACTION
VOTE
ABSBNr
71
NO
4. Continued . . .
Mr. Hoover presented to the Council copies of a report
containing financial data relative to the existing and potential
indebtedness of the City Utility Systems and recommendations
from the Business Council as to what they feel are appropriate
measures for consideration at this time. Highlights of the
report are:
1. Please begin looking at utility services as a business
and making decisions as such.
2. Assuming that Okeechobee Beach Water is not going to
renew their contract, finish design and permitting for new
ground water plant but do not build until you have
developed commitments for new customers to replace lost
ones.
3. Do not bond for any additional monies until revenue to
repay is established. We cannot as citizens, customers,
and taxpayers afford any more indebtedness without equal
revenues.
I hope that you will have an open mind and hopefully some of
these little ideas that we put together you can use as your
thought process for these difficult decisions that you have
coming. We of the Business Council certainly would be willing
to undertake any study that you as a Council would have us do
for you to try to assist you to make some of these decisions.
There was a brief discussion among Council and Mr. Hoover.
Council thanked Mr. Hoover for his ideas and time.
5. Discussion and decision of size of
Engineer Bill Reese appeared before the Council going over the
groundwater treatment plant and
"Okeechobee Raw Water Quality and Pilot Plant Summary" sheet in
recommendations of treatment process
exhibit four which shows the Council what levels of calcium,
- Director of Public Utilities
magnesium, sodium, chloride alkalinity, sulfate, TDS, color, iron
(Exhibit 4),
and hardness in wells one through five and seven. He requested
direction from the Council on whether to plan for a one million
gallon per day plant or two million gallon per day plant; and
which method to use to treat the water,
I,_ --L- I i.,* D., L .z L
F. NEW BUSINESS
-
COUNCILMEMBERS/ACTION
VOTIE
ABSTNF
yES
NO
5. Continued . . .
Public Utilities Director Loftin attached a memo concerning this
agenda item in exhibit four stating his recommendation to the
Council is that they should go to a one million gallon per day
plant and use the manganese-greensand method of treating the
water allowing for future upgrading to lime softening treatment.
After further discussion, Councilmember Watford made a motion to
instruct Reese, Macon and Associates to design a one million
gallon per day plant using the manganese-greensand method of
treatment and allow for future upgrade to lime softening method
of treatment and allow for expansion to a two million gallon per
day plant; seconded by Councilmember Walker.
KIRK
X
COLLINS
X
ENTRY
X
WALKER
X
WATFORD
X
MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Kirk:
Mayor Kirk adjourned the meeting at 9:15 P.M.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT IF ANY PERSON SHOULD
DECIDE TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE AT THIS MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SUCH PERSON WILL NEED TO IN-
SURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING IS
MADE WHICH INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE
UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS BASED. A COPY OF THE RE-
CORPING CAN BE OBTAINED IN THE CITY CLERK'S
OF IC
J s E. Kirk, Mayor
somas
Bonnie S. CMC Cit-lerk +;
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