2019-08-30 Minutes - Special MeetingCITY OF OKEECHOBEE
AUGUST 30, 2019, SPECIAL EMERGENCY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
55 SE 3RD AVENUE ♦ COUNCIL CHAMBERS ♦ OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974
SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION
PAGE 1 OF 3
568
AGENDA
COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - VOTE
I.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the special meeting to order at 1:00 P.M. noting for the record the purpose was to conduct an
Emergency Hearing and consider other issues directly related to preparing for Hurricane Dorian, of which the City of
Okeechobee is within its projected path.
II.
ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Gamiotea called the roll for Officials and Department Heads required to attend:
Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Present
Council Member Wes Abney Present
Council Member Monica M. Clark Present
Council Member Bob Jarriel Present
Council Member Bobby Keefe Present
City Attorney John R. Cook Present
City Administrator Marcos MontesDeOca Present
City Clerk Lane Gamiotea Present
Fire Chief Herb Smith Present (entered chambers at 1:15 P.M.)
Police Chief Bob Peterson Present
Public Works Director David Allen Present
III.
OPEN EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING AT 1:01 P.M.
A.1.a) Motion to read proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 by title
Council Member Jarriel moved to read proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 by title only; seconded by Council
only (Exhibit 1).
Member Keefe.
b) Vote on motion to read by title only
VOTE:
WATFORD — YEA ABNEY— YEA CLARK — YEA
JARRIEL — YEA KEEFE — YEA MOTION CARRIED.
c) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 1191 by title only.
Attorney Cook read proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 by title only as follows: "AN EMERGENCY
ORDINANCE ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, DESIGNATING
THE CHIEF OF POLICE AS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL FOR THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE;
PROVIDING FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO DECLARE A 72 -HOUR STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHIN THE
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE DUE TO THE PREDICTED PATH OF HURRICANE DORIAN; PROVIDING FOR
ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO EXTEND THE 72 -HOUR
DECLARATION; PROVIDING FOR DECLARATION TO CONTINUE FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME AS
DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE; PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY (continued)
568
569
AGENDA
III. EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
A.1.c) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 1194 by title only
continued.
2.a) Motion to adopt proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194.
b) Public comments and discussion.
c) Vote on motion.
CLOSE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Emergency closure of City Hall.
AUGUST 30, 2019 - SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 3
COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - VOTE
MEASURES; PROVIDING FOR DISCRETIONARY EMERGENCY MEASURES; PROVIDING FOR FILING
DECLARATIONS AND MEASURES IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AND PUBLICATION TO NEWS
MEDIA; PROVIDING FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING FOR OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK AND PUBLICATION
TO NEWS MEDIA; PROVIDING FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
Council Member Clark moved to adopt proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194; seconded by Council Member
Abney.
Mayor Watford opened the floor for public comments; there was none. Council questioned the procedures within the
Ordinance and confirmed Chief Peterson can extend the current State of Emergency at the end of the initial
72 -hours, for additional 72 -hours and continue extensions as necessary. Since the current State of Emergency
enacted by Governor DeSantis, the following acts are prohibited effective immediately: the sale of, or offer to sell,
with or without consideration, any ammunition or gun or other firearm of any size or description; the intentional display,
by or in any store or shop, of any ammunition or gun or other firearm of any size or description; and the intentional
possession in a public place of a firearm by any person, except a duly authorized law enforcement official or person in
military service acting in the official performance of their duty. The six items listed in paragraph five are not
automatically prohibited and would require Chief Peterson to enact emergency measures as he deems necessary.
These acts cover the establishment of curfews, prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, closing places of public
assemblage, prohibit the sale or transfer of gasoline, flammable substances or combustible liquids.
VOTE:
WATFORD — YEA
JARRIEL — YEA
ABNEY — YEA CLARK — YEA
KEEFE — YEA MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Watford closed the Emergency Public Hearing at 1:05 P.M.
Monday is a Holiday (Labor Day) observed by the City, Administrator MontesDeOca requested the Council consider
closing City Hall Tuesday and Wednesday. Council Member Abney made a motion to close City Hall on
September 3 and 4, 2019, and re -open on September 5, 2019, or at the discretion of Chief Peterson and
Administrator MontesDeOca due to Hurricane Dorian, non-essential personnel would not report to work
during this time; seconded by Council Member Jarriel.
In response to Council's questions about notifying the public, Clerk Gamiotea responded that after the meeting,
notices will be posted on the exterior doors at City Hall. The notices include the phone numbers for the County
Emergency Operations Center in order for citizens to know where to get assistance and information.
1
AGENDA
IV. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
A. Emergency closure of City Hall continued.
ADJOURNMENT - Mayor
Please take notice and be advised that when 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 ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding
is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. City Clerk media are
for the sole purpose of backup for official records of the Clerk.
;Aka La
Lane Gamiotea, CMc, City Clerk
ZAL
D.wling R. Watford,s) , Mayor
AUGUST 30, 2019 - SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 3 570
COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION • VOTE
VOTE:
WATFORD — YEA
JARRIEL — YEA
ABNEY — YEA
KEEFE — YEA
CLARK — YEA
MOTION CARRIED.
Chief Peterson then provided information from the most recent meeting with State and local Emergency Operations
representatives. Hurricane Dorian's landfall is uncertain at this time. Okeechobee County is within the cone of error.
It is expected to be a major hurricane with high winds, rainfall and storm surge. The Board of County Commission
will be making decisions on opening shelters and providing that information to the public; we have a 1,200 -person
capacity. South Elementary School located at 2468 Southwest 7th Avenue is a general population shelter as well as
the designated pet friendly shelter with pet pre -registration being required. Regular shelters will open as needed.
The special needs shelter is the new County Road and Bridge facility located at 804 Northwest 2nd Street.
Mayor Watford reminded everyone to share information through their social media accounts as it is released from
the Emergency Operations Center. Mr. Wayne Cunningham will staff the local radio station, WOKC, they are
collaborating with WPTV television station out of Palm Beach. Mrs. Libby Pigman, the Okeechobee Office
Operations Director for the South Florida Water Management, provided information on Lake Okeechobee water
levels, and that on August 31, 2019, the locks for ingress/egress to the Lake would close at 3:00 P.M., all other land
management areas would close at 5:00 P.M.
Everyone was reminded to download the new app from the State Attorney's Office to report price gauging.
Administrator MontesDeOca reported that offices within City Hall have been prepared. Public Works has only a few
more items to complete their preparation of City facilities.
There being no further discussion, nor items on the agenda, Mayor Watford adjourned the special meeting at 1:31
P.M.
a014 -'D8 3G mul R34. *
PUBLIC NOTIC
CITY COUNCIL
EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING
EIECOPT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council for the City of
Okeechobee will conduct an Emergency Public Hearing, on Friday,
August 30, 2019, 1:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as possible at City
Hall, 55 SE 3rd Ave, Rm 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
The purpose of the public hearing is to consider adopting proposed
Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 designating the Chief of Police as
the Emergency Management Official for the City which provides him
with the authority to enact a state of emergency within the municipal
boundaries due to the projected path of Hurricane Dorian. The public
is invited and encouraged to attend.
ANY PERSON DECIDING TO APPEAL any decision made by the
City Council with respect to any matter considered at this meeting
will need to ensure a verbatim record of the proceeding is made and
the record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the
appeal will be based. In accordance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), any person with a disability as defined by the
ADA, that needs special accommodation to participate in this
proceeding, contact the City Clerk's Office no later than two business
days prior to proceeding, 863-763-3372.
BE ADVISED that should you intend to show any document, picture,
video or items to the Council in support or opposition to any item on
the agenda; a copy of the document, picture, video, or item MUST be
provided to the City Clerk for the City's records.
By: Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr. City Clerk Lane Gamiotea, CMC
Posted: 8/29/19 -BJ
Aug 30, 2019 Special Meeting called due to Hurricane Dorian. On Thursday, Aug 20, 2019, these
notices were posted to provide public notice of the special meeting/emergency hearing called
444
AO -
TOBACCO
FREE
WORN AREAS
NOTICE
IF YOU HAVE
AN EMERGENCY
CALL 911
FOR ALL OTHER ISSUES
TEASE PRESS BUTTON
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
55 SE THIRD AVENUE, OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974
AUGUST 30, 2019
1:00 PM
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OFFICIAL AGENDA
olq-DS- w mu\
Mayor
Dowling R. Watford, Jr.
Council Members
Wes Abney
Monica Clark
Bob Jarriel
Bobby Keefe
CALL TO ORDER
II. ATTENDANCE
III. OPEN EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING 1 IC 1
A.1.a) Motion to read proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 by title only (Exhibit 1). I f j I L
b) Vote on motion to read by title only. \\ tl )[ t Y\ tC fl CQ.1vue J
C) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 1194 by title only. (�,�6t� �OOlC r -
2.a) Motion to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1194. 4oLl uk2 (�
b) Public comments and discussion.
c) Vote on motion. (�_Q ��{ ay " Mp 4 coAkiM
CLOSE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING - 1 ! 06p ox
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Emergency closure of City Hall.
V. ADJOURN MEETING I . 1 (JT -
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if any person desires to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter
considered at this proceeding, such interested person will need a record of the proceeding, and for such purpose may need to ensure a verbatim record of the
proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. City Clerk recordings are for the sole purpose of
backup for official records of the Clerk. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any person with a disability as defined by the ADA, that
needs special accommodation to participate in this proceeding, contact the City Clerk's Office no later than two business days prior to proceeding, 863-763-3372.
BE ADVISED that should you intend to show any document, picture, video, or item to the Council in support or opposition to any item on the agenda; a copy of
the document, picture, video, or item must be provided to the City Clerk for the City's records.
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