Loading...
1992-03-03 Regular Meeting1"0iii-- ''itf OKE 0 EC y0 LOR101' A. Call meeting to order. C I T Y O F 0 K E E C H 0 B E E C I T Y C O U N C I L M E E T I N G MARCH 3, 1992 - 7:00 P.M. SUMKARY OF COUNCIL ACTION B. Invocation offered by Dowling Watford, Jr; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk. C. Mayor and Council attendance: Mayor James "Jim" Kirk Councilmember R.R. "Nick" Collins Councilmember Danny Entry Councilmember Jerry E. Walker Councilman Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Staff attendance: Attorney John R. Cook Administrator John J. Drago Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Deputy Clerk S. Lane Earnest D. Motion to dispense with reading and approve the Summary of Council Action for the regular meeting of February 18, 1992. COUNCILMBMBFRS ACTION Mayor Kirk called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Invocation offered by Councilmember Dowling Watford, Jr.; Mayor Kirk led the Pledge of Allegiance. Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Councilmember Collins made a motion to dispense with reading aad approve the Summary of Council Action for the regular meeting Oz February 18, 1992; seconded by Councilmember Walker. KIRK COLLINS ENTRY ATFORD OTION CARRIED. Page 1 of 7 1 VO"- YES 1 NO I Ll 90C17 Dn.,111 Mao+inn _ Pnna % of 7 1'IUI V11 J COUNCILMBMBBRS ACTION VOTE VES NO ABRNF REQUEST FOR THE ADDITION, DEFERRAL. OR WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. Administrator Drago announced that item number ten under new business is added to the agenda to discuss the Southeast Canal Project. E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Presentation of certificate of Mayor Kirk presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Bill appreciation to Mr. Bill Thornton Thornton for the Southeast Canal Clean-up Project. for the Southeast Canal Project - Mayor Kirk. 2. Proclaim March 8 - 14, 1992 as Girl Mayor Kirk read the proclamation in its entirety as follows: Scout Week - Mayor Kirk. "WHEREAS, MARCH 12, 1992, IS THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF GIRL SCOUTS OF THE U.S.A., THE LARGEST VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION FOR GIRLS IN THE WORLD; AND WHEREAS, GIRL SCOUTING IS A VITAL ORGANIZATION FOR GIRLS, ENABLING THEM TO DEVELOP SELF-ESTEEM AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, PROVIDING AN ATMOSPHERE OF WARM AND TRUE FRIENDSHIP; AND WHEREAS, THE GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM NOT ONLY REFLECTS THE ENDURING VALUES OF STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE ORGANIZATION SINCE 1912, BUT ALSO LENDS ITSELF TO THE SPECIAL AND UNIQUE SITUATION OF GIRLS OF THE 1990'S; AND WHEREAS, GIRL . SCOUTS OF ALL AGES HAVE MADE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIFE OF THIS, OUR OWN HOME COMMUNITY, NOW THEREFORE, I, JAMS E. KIRK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 8 - 14, 1992 GIRL SCOUT WEEK IN THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AND URGE CITIZENS OF OKEECHOBEE TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES AND ENDEAVORS OF THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE U.S.A." Mayor Kirk presented the proclamation to those representatives of the Girl Scouts who where present. s Marrh � 19Q2 _ Raniilar Maatinn _ Pana � of 7 VOTE E. NEW BUSINESS COUNCILMEMBBRS ACTION VES NO �BSENT Councilmember Entry made a motion to approve Juan Suarez as a 3. Motion to approve Juan Suarez as a regular Wastewater Treatment Plant regular Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator; seconded by Operator - Director of Public Councilmember Watford. Utilities. KIRK X COLLINS X ENTRY X WALKER X WATFORD X MOTION CARRIED. 4. Motion to adopt Resolution 92-8 Councilmember Watford made a motion to adopt Resolution No. supporting Hospice - City 92-8 supporting Hospice; seconded by Councilmember Walker. Administrator (Exhibit 1). Attorney Cook read Resolution No. 92-8 by title only as follows: 1, "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA SUPPORTING HOSPICE OF OKEECHOBEE IN ITS ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A GRANT FUNDED THROUGH THECOMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT, FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 1992." Vote on motion to adopt Resolution is as follows: KIRK X COLLINS X ENTRY X WALKER X WATFORD X MOTION CARRIED. 5. Consider an alley closing behind the Discussion was held among Council and staff concerning closing Okeechobee Community Church - City portions of alleys. Mayor Kirk instructed City Clerk Thomas to Administrator (Exhibit 2). return Application No. 35 to Reverend McDuff of the Okeechobee Community Church and explain the Council s concerns of closing portions of alleys and that he contact all the other propert owners within Block 40 and have them sign off on the application to close the alley in the entire block. The application should be brought back to the Council at the next regular meeting or when completed as requested. rnInn7 D. 1 Moo+inn _ Panc A of 7 E. VOTE YES NO �SRNT6. COUNCILMBMBERS ACTION NEW BUSINESS Discuss extension of the Franchise Council, City Attorney Cook and Mr. Pat Yancy (representative of Agreement between the City and L.P. L.P. Sanitation) discussed at length the language of the Franchise Sanitation - City Administrator Agreement relative to its renewal. (Exhibit 3). Attorney Cook informed the Council that if the City takes no action then the City accepts the position of Waste Management (L.P. Sanitation) that this is an automatic extension of the Franchise Agreement for five years. If the Council intends to do otherwise such as exercise the Council's right to say this is not an automatic extension then you would need a motion to do that. Councilmember Collins stated he felt the agreement should not be renewed and that the service should be bid out to get a better - price and made a motion that the City notify L.P. Sanitation's Attorney Tom Conely that the City's position is we do have a right to terminate the contract, so it can be on record that we do not accept their extension. Motion died for lack of second. No action was taken so as Attorney Cook related the Franchise Agreement with Waste Management L.P. Sanitation was automatically renewed for five years or July 7 19971. 7. Discuss retaining DeSantis, Cook & Following discussion among Council and Attorney Cook concerning Hunston as special counsel for the fees and background information of the law firm, Councilmember Sharp Construction Lawsuit - City Walker made a motion to retain services of DeSantis Cook and Hunston; seconded by Councilmember Watford. Attorney (Exhibit 4). KIRK X COLLINS X ENTRY X WALKER X WATFORD X MOTION CARRIED. RECESS: Mayor Kirk called for a recess at 8:15 P.M. and reconvened the meeting at 8:20 P.M. M ., ..... 1.. 7 90n7 D., ..,,i Me,e,+i., ., Dino Ci of 7 E. VOTE VES NO CSENT NEW BUSINESS LOUNL'HMEMBERS ACTION 8. a) Motion to remove from table Councilmember Collins made a motion to remove from table the the $42,740.72 contract amendment $42,740.72 contract amendment between the City and Knepper and between the City and Knepper and Willard for engineering services; seconded by Councilmember Entry. and Willard for engineering X services. KIRK X COLLINS ENTRY X WALKER X WATFORD X MOTION CARRIED. b) Motion to pay Knepper and Councilmember Watford made a motion to pay Knepper and Willard Willard $21,137.07 for additional $21,137.07 for additional inspection work relating to the Sharp inspection work relating to the Contract on the Sewer Collection System remedial work; seconded Taddie Collection System remedial by Councilmember Entry. work - City Administrator (Exhibit 5). KIRK X COLLINS X ENTRY X WALKER X WATFORD X MOTION CARRIED. 9. Discuss City Finances - City Administrator Drago reviewed with the Council the memorandum in Administrator (Exhibit 6). exhibit six. Following lengthy discussion, Council instructed Administrator Drago to use a combination as appropriate, of three options proposed in the memorandum. The options being: 1. Raise property taxes approximately 18% (4.15 to 4.90 based on FY 91-92 Tax figures). 2. Increase Utility taxes on electric, telephone and bottled gas to 10% across the board. (No tax on water) 3. Transfer an additional $100,000.00 from Public Utilities. Ke_.__1,. n i Kn +;. Dino of 7 E. I'IUI l.11 J • 1 JJL � IG U I UI IGG . - VOTE - - VES NEW BUSINESS COUNCILMEMBERS ACTION ITEM BROUGHT TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION: Attorney Cook advised Council that Ms. Kim Love of South Florida Proposed Resolution for declaring a portion of N.E. 5th Avenue wetlands. Water Management was here a couple of meetings back and is here tonight. The item brought to the Council's attention previously was a Resolution declaring a portion of Northeast 5th Avenue wetlands and the Council's instructions were to advertise the Resolution and notify surrounding property owners. Since that meeting he has met with City Clerk Thomas and they determined that was not necessary and that the Resolution can be adopted without notification to surrounding property owners. Mayor Kirk requested following proper procedures by having the Resolution placed on the agenda for the March 17, 1992 meeting for adoption at that time. 10. ITEM ADDED TO AGENDA: Presentation of video tape of the Southeast Canal Project progress. Program Coordinator Jim Threewits presented to the Council a video tape of the progress of the Southeast Canal Project. He explained that the company the Council voted to hire to clean out the canal was doing an excellent job and asked for approval to use the rest of the funds ($16,000 total) and finish all the canals. Councilmember Entry made a motion to continue with the project and spend the $16,000.00 for all four canals. Motion died for C lack of second. Discussion ensued among Council and staff, Council instructed Program Coordinator Threewits to come back to the Council with a video showing the completed canal and the Council would decide at that time whether to continue on with the canal cleaning project. _. _. _.. M;kv- h Z 1QQ9 _ Don����r Mo +in Dann 7 of 7 C' CUUNCILMEMBERS ACTION VOTE VES NO �BSEtQT ADJOURNMENT Mayor Kirk: Mayor Kirk adjourned the meeting at 9:08 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 INSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDING IS MADE WHICH IN- CLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS BASED. J E. Kirk, Mayor Attest:" Bonnie S. Thomas, CMC, City Clerk