DRAFT 2021-01-19 MinutesCITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
JANUARY 19, 2021, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee
to order on Tuesday, January 19, 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 Pastor Chad Keathley of the Okeechobee Church of God, followed by
the Pledge of Allegiance led 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, Monica Clark, Bob Jarriel,
and Bobby Keefe.
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A. No items were added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda.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 Clark to
approve the agenda as presented. 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 Keefe, seconded by Council Member Abney to approve
consent agenda items A [January 5, 2021 Regular Meeting minutes], B [December 2020
Warrant Register, General Fund $657,976.99, Public Facilities Improvement Fund
$16,718.82, and Capital Improvement Projects Fund $2,009.15], and C [appoint Mrs.
Michele Clanton to the General Employee Pension Fund Board of Trustees, City
Resident 2 of 2, term being January 20, 2021 through December 31, 2024, replacing
Nathan Pippin]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Keefe to
approve a Fine Reduction Request as recommended by Special Magistrate
Azcona from $9,350.00 to $935.00 plus a $50.00 Administrative Fee for Code
Enforcement Case No. 190917011, Manuela Pineda, property located at 1124
Southwest 8th Street, and authorize a payment plan with half paid in January and
the balance paid by February 10, 2021,. Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to
approve a Fine Reduction Request as recommended by Special Magistrate
Azcona from $8,450.00 to $845.00 plus a $50.00 Administrative Fee for Code
Enforcement Case No. 190718010, Fortex Holdings, LLC, property located at
501 East North Park Street. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. City Clerk Gamiotea provided a brief update on the 2021 Special Election.
Tentatively the Proclamation will be issued on February 2, 2021, Qualifying Week
to begin at noon on February 8 through noon on February 12, 2021, and Election
day being April 27, 2021. She and Supervisor of Elections Arnold have been
diligently working to ensure every cost savings measure is implemented, which
includes not conducting Early Voting.
D. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to award
the Request For Qualification No. ADM 03-32-09-20 for Professional Landscape
Architect Services Contract to Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc. Motion
Carried Unanimously.
E. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to extend
the current COVID-19 administrative leave [with pay] policy until September 30,
2021, limiting the number of days to 10 calendar days and including all
employees. Motion Carried Unanimously.
DRAFT January 19, 2021, Regular Meeting, Page 1 of 2
V. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
F. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Clark to
approve a base salary increase to $38,500.00 for the Police Services Coordinator
position, with Mrs. Jeanna Kovac and Ms. Erika Smith retaining their current
longevity steps upon transfer to new positions. Motion Carried Unanimously.
G. The Council directed Staff to develop a point system matrix to be implemented
when selecting Citizen Board Members and present for consideration at the
February 2, 2021 meeting.
H. The consensus of the Council was to deny the request for electric scooter usage
within the City made by Bird Electric Scooters.
Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Abney to
authorize Mayor Watford to execute a letter to Governor DeSantis requesting the
Heartland Region vacancy on the South Florida Water Management District
Board be filled by an individual from the area. Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
City Attorney Fumero provided a status update on the training and procedural changes
being implemented in Code Enforcement, the Fire Union negotiation meeting held today,
and the Citizens Charter Review Advisory Committee meetings.
VII. COUNCIL COMMENTS
The Council sang happy birthday to Mayor Watford and Council Member Clark.
VIII. Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 8:06 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.
DRAFT January 19, 2021, Regular Meeting, Page 2 of 2