2020-06-25 Approved Minutes52
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMISSION
JUNE 259 2020, .JOINT WORKSHOP
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Joint Workshop was called to order on June 25, 2020, by Okeechobee Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC) Chairperson Burroughs at 6:00 P.M. held at the
Okeechobee County Historic Courthouse, Room 270, 304 Northwest 2nd Street,
Okeechobee, Florida 34972.
Those in attendance were noted as follows: Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr., City Council
Members Wes Abney, Monica Clark, Bob Jarriel, and Bobby Keefe (via telephone),
County Commissioner Chair Terry Burroughs, County Commissioners Bryant
Culpepper, Bradley Goodbread, Kelly Owens, and David Hazellief, City Clerk Lane
Gamiotea, City Attorney John Fumero, City Administrator Marcos MontesDeOca,
County Attorney Wade Vose, County Administrator Robbie Chartier, and County Deputy
Clerk Jeff Shain.
II. COMMENCEMENT
The invocation was offered by Mayor Watford. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by
Commissioner Goodbread.
III. AGENDA
Chair Burroughs yielded the floor to Mayor Watford, who provided a summary of the
progress made at the task force meetings [the group consists of Mayor Watford, Chair
Burroughs, City Attorney Fumero, County Attorney Vose, City Administrator
MontesDeOca, and County Administrator Chartier]. The summary highlights, a copy of
which has been attached to the official minute file, was also presented on a slide
presentation. The joint recommendations for the fire service agreement are based on
current services provided by the County. The City would pay the County to provide fire
suppression, rescue operations, mass casualty, incident response, major disaster, and
fire prevention services within the City.
The City desires to use the current County fire assessment rate as the basis for a fee
calculation for the first year. The Council will need to decide to cover the cost and be
included in the County's current fire assessment rate study. This will determine the true
fire assessment rate for City properties. Any fees collected, such as inspection fees, will
go to the City to offset costs. Equipment such as fire trucks, bunker gear, etc. will be
provided to the County at no cost. The County will maintain vehicles at no charge to the
City. The Council will also need to decide whether they will allow the County to store fire
apparatuses at the existing City facility and for how long. The City desires to have a five-
year agreement; the BOCC needs to officially make a decision on this. The method in
how to track and evaluate the County's performance would be determined after
applicable computer software has been implemented by the County. County staff is
currently researching the various types of software available to provide these reports.
The City will determine whether they will pay for transferred firefighters to attend
Paramedic school. The County has proposed taking seven City fire personnel (six
Paramedics and one Inspector). The Council wants all employees protected so the
County will be deciding whether they will take all City fire personnel and use them as
attrition presents itself. The Council will have to address paying for the additional
employees until attrition takes place. City Pension Options: employee could stay in City
pension plan or choose to enroll in County plan. The process to handle salary,
vacation/sick accruals/current balances are being negotiated by both Administrators.
The Fire Union will have to agree to the proposal (Interlocal Agreement) to complete the
process as an amendment to the current contract, specifically on the topics of seniority,
rank and probationary periods. In conclusion, Mayor Watford noted he would be remiss
in his duty to the City Council by not sharing the discussion of requiring a dual
referendum by the task force. Each entity's Attorney will need to provide their individual
legal opinion on how to handle the issue.
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Chair Burroughs opened the floor for comments. Commissioner Culpepper stated the
decision should go to a referendum since it is up to the voters to decide this. He was
concerned with increases to residential property insurance premiums stating the lower
income range residents will be affected greatly. Then countered, when commercial tax
rates are lowered, it helps the commercial property owners. He asked for all to stop and
think about how many people will be affected the most by having to pay more. In
conclusion, he questioned what the people were going to end up with.
Council Member Abney asked for clarification on how certain fees will be remitted to the
City to offset costs of services rendered. Chair Burroughs confirmed the intent is for the
County to collect the fees and reimburse the City for inspections and so forth. Council
Member Jarriel asked what the time limit would be for the County to store fire
apparatuses in the existing City facility. Mayor Watford responded, the Council will have
to make that decision, as well as other options such as housing the County fire
personnel. The assumption is the building would be utilized until the County can build a
new facility.
Commissioner Hazellief did not want to address the specific issue of a five-year
agreement when asked by Council Member Jarriel, stating only the highlights should be
discussed. Commissioner Goodbread noted his two main issues are: no City resident
gets hurt and the services do not fall on the County to fund.
Discussion ensued until it was confirmed there were several issues needing to be
addressed by each entity. From those decisions, costs would be further refined
and provided at a future workshop.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
City Fire Chief Herb Smith asked several questions related to replacing equipment,
implementing a fire assessment, and how confusing the discussions are since the two
departments operate on many different scopes. When the proposed changes are made,
those differences can impact City residents more than what is realized. Another issue
the Council will have to address is whether it is better to implement a fire assessment in
the City to cover the cost of paying the County for the fire services, or continue to use
the current millage rate. He continued, several are in favor of combining these services
on the concept it will save the City taxpayers money. Those same individuals have also
implied the Council could use the savings to beautify the City. He questioned the savings
as the dollars used to fund his Department would be split between paying the County
for fire services and City beautification costs.
City Fire Captain Lalo Rodriguez stated he would like to see the final numbers. He then
asked "why should either entity stop at combining fire services, this is supposed to be
about money back in our pockets, then one government is the best method, why even
keep the City?"
Mr. Wes Williamson commented he understood this is a tough decision. The Economic
Council's mission statement is "to create an environment that promotes prudent
economic growth and improves the quality of life in Okeechobee." He noted his
appreciation for allowing public comment each time this issue is discussed, and then
recited the issues the Economic Council has outlined on a flyer to provide what they
believe to be an estimated savings of $600,000.00 per year for the City. These savings
can be used to reduce taxes or whatever else the elected body decides. The issue for
the Economic Council was to reduce redundancy, as this was not a good use of
taxpayer's money. He urged the officials to move forward with the contract, and
concluded by addressing the topic of requiring a referendum vote by the people. It is his
opinion a referendum was not necessary since the Council and Commissioners were
elected to make these decisions.
Mr. Josh Borgstrom, Firefighters' Union Representative, stated the Union is willing to
negotiate to help the City Firefighters.
Mr. Noel Chandler (former City Council Member and Commissioner) noted his concern
for every City Firefighter. He has always been an advocate for the employees and
challenged the Council and Commissioners to take care of them.
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Ms. Karyne Brass stated her opposition to contracting the fire services and strongly
urged to keep the services at the City. She asked whether the Council and
Commissioners were aware they will be known as the officials who began the
disassembling of the City? She provided an example of the average amount a
homeowner would save on their property taxes, approximately $50.00 per year, and
could not fathom taking away a valuable service for such a small savings. She noted the
Economic Council's position has switched gears from a savings to the City to a new
methodology, redundancy. It is being presented as the City is at fault. However, this can
be remedied without giving up the Fire Department by allowing them to provide their
own ambulance services. She continued, the Economic Council's major component
makes sense. They have very few City residents as members. Combining the
departments is for the sole purpose of benefiting businesses, not the residents.
Mr. Mack "Hoot" Worley, Director of the Economic Council, stated the Economic Council
has no other motivation than to make it more economical for all. Every City resident is a
member of the County as well. Should the Council decide not to get rid of the Fire
Department, then they should budget the Department to be the same amount they would
pay the County.
Captain Rodriguez questioned whether churches were going to be assessed in the City
since the option of adopting a fire assessment was being considered, as they are
assessed in the County. The Council is also in the process of appointing a committee to
review the City Charter. The Charter does not have to be amended to abolish the Fire
Department, but would have to in order to abolish the Police Department. He stated
"when looking at saving taxpayers money or removing duplicated services by getting rid
of a City Department, where does it stop? Is the Police Department next and is this why
the issue of rewriting the Charter is being addressed at this time?" He repeated his
previous statement in doing away with the City, "let everyone pay the County millage
rate (8 mills) so everyone keeps their jobs."
Ms. Sandra Pearce stated she loves the City Fire Department, and thanked them for
what they do. She does not want to see anyone lose their jobs. However, she has lived
in the same place in the City and has paid two taxes for 51 years. She agreed with
Captain Rodriguez's statement to have only one government.
Commissioner Owens offered she was in the same position as Mayor Watford in not
supporting the combination of the fire services. Based on information and research she
has firsthand knowledge of, it is unlikely there is going to be a savings in this. She
reached out to a long-time Fire Chief in another County. He made it clear this has to be
a win-win for the taxpayers, employees, City, and County or it is not worth doing. To get
there will be a large accomplishment, as she did not believe they were there, but hoped
they would get there in the end should it continue moving forward. Council Member
Abney stated he has never been for or against this, and wants to see what savings it
could bring. Should it end up being a win-win for everyone, then he will be for it; it has
to be clear that it is best for everyone, staff, firefighters, and taxpayers. Chair Burroughs
said in closing, the objective is to do something right for the taxpayers, and for both the
City and County employees. He appreciated everyone who attended. This will have to
be a team effort to get done.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, the Workshop was adjourned at 7:30 P.M.
Dowling R. Wa ford, Jr., Mayor
ATT
Lane Gamiotea, CIVIC, City Clerk
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.
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