DRAFT 2020-12-01 Minutes
DRAFT December 1, 2020, Regular Meeting, Page 1 of 2
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
DECEMBER 1, 2020, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee
to order on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers,
located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation
was offered by Mayor Watford, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by Council Member
Keefe.
II. ATTENDANCE
To establish a quorum, roll was taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea. Members present:
Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr., Council Members Wes Abney, Bob Jarriel, and Bobby
Keefe. Council Member Monica Clark was in attendance via Zoom.com.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. A revised proposed Resolution No. 2020 -20, Exhibit 2 was distributed together
with a newly proposed Resolution No. 2020-21, all related to New Business Item
VI.A.
B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to
approve the agenda as amended. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for issues not on
the agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Abney, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve
consent agenda item A, November 5, 2020 Town Hall Meeting and Regular Meeting
minutes. Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:04 P.M.
A. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to read
proposed Ordinance No. 1220 by title only, regarding Abandonment of Right -of-
Way Petition No. 20-002-SC. Motion Carried Unanimously.
Attorney Fumero read proposed Ordinance No. 1220 by title only as follows: “AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; VACATING AND
ABANDONING A PORTION OF SOUTHWEST 4TH STREET (f/k/a FIFTH
AVENUE) AND A PORTION OF SOUTHWEST 5TH STREET (f/k/a FOURTH
STREET) MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN, LYING WITHIN THE
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS
RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 5, PAGE 5, PUBLIC RECORDS OF
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA (PETITION NO. 20-002-SC); RESERVING
UNTO THE CITY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS A NON-EXCLUSIVE
EASEMENT FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES PURPOSES; DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO RECORD THE ORDINANCE IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY,
FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
Mr. Steve Dobbs noted his attendance on behalf of the applicant. No other public
comments were noted. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council
Member Jarriel to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1220. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:09 P.M.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to adopt
[revised] proposed Resolution No. 2020-20 regarding the 2020 General Election
and Terms of Office for City Council Member Monica Clark.
DRAFT December 1, 2020, Regular Meeting, Page 2 of 2
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
ITEM A. CONTINUED: Attorney Fumero read revised proposed Resolution No.
2020-20 by title only as follows: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; ACCEPTING THE OFFICIAL RESULTS FOR THE
2020 GENERAL CITY ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR TERMS OF OFFICE TO
BE HELD BY MONICA McCARTHY CLARK, AS AN ELECTED CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER; PROVIDING FOR THE CITY CLERK TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE OF
ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
Motion Carried Unanimously.
Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to adopt
proposed Resolution No. 2020-21 accepting the unconditional resignation of
Council Member Elect Russ Cale.
Attorney Fumero read proposed Resolution No. 2020 -21 by title only as follows:
“A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; ACCEPTING
THE UNCONDITIONAL RESIGNATION OF RUSS CALE FROM THE OFFICE
OF CITY COUNCIL; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to
approve an agreement for services with eSCRIBE Software Ltd. [in the amount
of $16,668.00] for webcasting and automated closed captioning. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
C. Motion by Council Member Abney, seconded by Council Member Keefe to award
Bid No. PW 05-10-09-20 Southeast 3rd Avenue Pavement Improvements to C.W.
Roberts Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $139,848.50. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
D. Motion by Council Member Abney, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to
approve Centennial Park Pavilion Rules and Reservation Fee Application.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
E. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to ratify
the Interlocal Agreement for Fire Services between Okeechobee County and the
City of Okeechobee, including all exhibits. Motion Carried Four to One.
VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
City Attorney Fumero reported he will be working with City Clerk Gamiotea on the
Special Election to replace Mr. Cale; and on updating the City’s public records policy to
give specific procedures for retaining electronic records and researching possible
technology applications to assist the City Council in retaining their public records .
VIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Jarriel welcomed citizens to be present at meetings and voice their
opinions and/or concerns. His comments were echoed by Council Member K eefe.
Council Member Clark explained her intent for limiting public attendance to the tree
lighting ceremony.
IX. Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:54 P.M.
Submitted By:
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, 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 ev idence upon which the appeal is to be based.
City Clerk media are for the sole purpose of backup for official records of the Clerk.