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DRAFT 2021-01-05 Minutes DRAFT January 5, 2021, Regular Meeting, Page 1 of 2 CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA JANUARY 5, 2021, 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, January 5, 2021, 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 Mr. Jim Clark, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Jarriel. Notation: During qualifying in August 2020, Council Member Abney did not seek to qualify to run for City Council. Monica Clark and Russ Cale qualified to fill the two seats and were deemed elected by default to take office on January 4, 2021. Mr. Cale resigned November 30, 2020, causing the City Clerk to proceed with organizing a Special Election. Mr. Abney will remain as a Council Member until an individual is elected. II. ATTENDANCE To establish a quorum, roll was taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea. Members present: Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr., Council Members Monica Clark, Bob Jarriel, and Bobby Keefe. Council Member Wes Abney was absent. III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS A. No items were added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda. B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to approve the agenda as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. C. There was one comment card submitted for public participation for issues not on the agenda. Mr. Kevin Kenny informed the Council he would no longer be covering the news of the City for WOKC; Mr. Charles Murphy has returned. Mr. Kenny expressed his appreciation to the Council and Staff for being accessible, gracious and patient with him over the last three years. IV. ELECTION OF MAYOR A. Mayor Watford opened the floor to receive nominations for Mayor. Council Member Keefe nominated Dowling R. Watford, Jr. No other nominations were offered. B. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to appoint Dowling R. Watford, Jr. to serve a two-year term as Mayor beginning January 5, 2021 [or until their successor is appointed and qualified]. Motion Carried Unanimously. V. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Keefe to approve consent agenda items A, December 15, 2020 Regular Meeting minutes, and B, amendment of New Business Item VI.E. of the November 5, 2020 Regular Meeting minutes. Motion Carried Unanimously. VI. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:09 P.M. A. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to read proposed Ordinance No. 1221 by title only, updating the 5 -Year Schedule of the Comprehensive Plan Capital Improvements. Motion Carried Unanimously. Attorney Fumero read proposed Ordinance No. 1221 by title only as follows: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; UPDATING THE FIVE- YEAR SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS MANDATED BY FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 163.3177(3)(b); PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.” No public comments were offered. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Clark to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1221. Motion Carried Unanimously. MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:11 P.M. DRAFT January 5, 2021, Regular Meeting, Page 2 of 2 VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Nominations were considered for two-year appointments of the City Liaison to various Boards and Committees. 1. Central Florida Regional Planning Council: Regular Council Member Keefe, Alternate Council Member Jarriel. 2. Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities: Regular Council Member Jarriel, Alternate Council Member Abney. 3. Treasure Coast Council of Local Governments: Regular Mayor Watford, Alternate Council Member Abney. 4. Okeechobee County Healthy Start Coalition: Council Member Clark. 5. Okeechobee County Tourist Development Council: Regular Council Member Clark, Alternate Council Member Abney. 6. Okeechobee Main Street: Regular Council Member Keefe. 7. Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County: Public Works Director Allen. 8. Okeechobee Historical Society: Mayor Watford. 9. Battle of Okeechobee Re-enactment Committee: Mayor Watford. 10. Shared Services of Okeechobee Executive Round Table : Mayor Watford. 11. Okeechobee County Juvenile Justice Council: Mayor Watford. 12. Hendry, Okeechobee and Glades Opioid Consortium: Mayor Watford. B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to appoint Mrs. Robbie Chartier, Ms. Susanne Clemons, Mr. Bert Culbreth, Ms. Regina Hamrick, Mr. Frank Irby, Ms. Kathy Scott, and Mrs. Denise Whitehead as regular members, Mrs. Jennifer Tewksbury, and Mr. Gregg Maynard as alternate members to the Flagler Park Design Review Advisory Committee. Motion Carried Unanimously. C. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Keefe to renew the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Contract with Roger Azcona, Esquire retro-active to November 30, 2020 [for a period of two-years]. Motion Carried Unanimously. D. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve engineering services to Culpepper & Terpening, Inc. in the amount of $9,390.00 for Southeast 6th Street [Florida Department of Transportation Grant No. FPN 440373-1-54-01] and $28,070.00 for Southeast 3rd Avenue [Florida Department of Transportation Grant No. FPN 440372-1-54-01], totaling $37,460.00 for Street Milling and Resurfacing [Construction Engineering and Inspection Services]. Motion Carried Unanimously. VIII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE City Attorney Fumero provided a litigation update on the pending action in Circuit Court proceedings pertaining to Code Enforcement Cases [a copy of the memorandum was incorporated into the minute file]. IX. COUNCIL COMMENTS Council Members Jarriel and Keefe thanked all applicants of the Flagler Park Design Review Committee. Council Member Clark thanked everyone for the Investiture Ceremony held prior to the meeting in her honor. X. Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:58 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 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.