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DRAFT 2019-08-30 Minutes - Special Meeting CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AUGUST 30, 2019, SPECIAL EMERGENCY CITY COUNCIL MEETING 55 SE 3RD AVENUE  COUNCIL CHAMBERS  OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974 DRAFT SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION PAGE 1 OF 3 AGENDA COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - VOTE I. CALL TO ORDER II. ATTENDANCE III. OPEN EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING A.1.a) Motion to read proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 by title only (Exhibit 1). b) Vote on motion to read by title only . c) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 1191 by title only. 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. 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 MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING AT 1:01 P.M. Council Member Jarriel moved to read proposed Emergency Ordinance No. 1194 by title only; seconded by Council Member Keefe. VOTE: WATFORD – YEA ABNEY – YEA CLARK – YEA JARRIEL – YEA KEEFE – YEA MOTION CARRIED. 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) AUGUST 30, 2019 - SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 3 AGENDA COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - VOTE III. EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING A.1.c) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 11 94 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. 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 descripti on; and the intentional possession in a public place of a firearm by any person, except a duly authorize d 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 nece ssary. 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 ABNEY – YEA CLARK – YEA JARRIEL – 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. AUGUST 30, 2019 - SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 3 AGENDA COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - VOTE IV. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED A. Emergency closure of City Hall continued. V. 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. ___________________________________ ATTEST: Dowling R. Watford, Jr., Mayor _______________________________ Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk VOTE: WATFORD – YEA ABNEY – YEA CLARK – YEA JARRIEL – YEA KEEFE – 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 the designated pet friendly shelter and pre-registration is required. Regular shelters will open as needed with the first being Yearling Middle School located at 925 Northwest 23rd Lane, and as needed Okeechobee Achievement Academy. 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 t he agenda, Mayor Watford adjourned the special meeting at 1:31 P.M.