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DRAFT 2021-02-16 Minutes DRAFT Minutes, February 16, 2021, Page 1 of 2 CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 16, 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, February 16, 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 Mayor Watford, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Clark. 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 AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS A. No items were added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda.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 Abney, seconded by Council Member Jarriel 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. Mrs. Kaylee King of the Okeechobee Economic Development Corporation extended an invitation to the Council to attend a training session being offered at the Indian River State College Okeechobee campus on April 1, 2021. IV. PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATIONS A. Mayor Watford proclaimed the week of February 21 through 27, 2021 as “Engineers Week.” He presented the document to Administrator MontesDeOca and Mr. Steve Dobbs, which was read into the record as follows: “Whereas, engineers design, construct, and maintain the infrastructure and facilities that contribute to a high quality of life for all residents of the City of Okeechobee; and Whereas, the City of Okeechobee growth depends on engineers executing innovative, creative, and high-quality solutions to technical problems; and Whereas, the purpose of the Florida Engineering Society is to advance the public welfare, promote the professional, social and economic interests of the engineering professions, and stimulate and develop professional concepts amount all engineers through education and excellence in practice; and Whereas, members of the Florida Engineering Society and the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers are making strides to interact with the engineering education sector to prepare future engineers to maintain our economic leadership and quality of life; and Whereas, it is important that we recognize and honor the continuing contributions of America’s engineers. Now Therefore, I, Dowling R. Watford, Jr., by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, do hereby proclaim February 21 through 27, 2021 as ‘Engineers Week’ in the City of Okeechobee.” V. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve consent agenda items A [January 2021 Warrant Register, General Fund $738,028.30, Public Facilities Improvement Fund $29,966.04, and Capital Improvement Projects Fund $93.34], B [Re-appoint Mr. Tommy Clay as the regular member (term ending March 1, 2025) and Mr. Jeff Fadley as the alternate member (term ending March 1, 2023) to the Okeechobee Utility Authority Board of Directors] and C [disposal of obsolete surplus equipment that is no longer needed by the City: Asset No. 63 1997 Ford F150 Truck Vehicle Identification No. (VIN) 1FTDF17WXVNC96963; Asset No. 859 2011 Ford Crown Victoria VIN 2FABP7BV0BX135155; Asset No. 899 Dell mobile workstation Model No. M2800; Asset No. 714 25-foot christmas tree with lights; four filing cabinets; a 20-foot Communications VHF or UHF Fiber Glass Collinear Gain Base Station Antenna; eight various computer towers; an Auto Data Base; two small filing cabinets; a multi-line phone system; a small bookshelf; and a 2009 black Dodge Charger VIN 2B3AA4CT1AH163995]. Motion Carried Unanimously. DRAFT Minutes, February 16, 2021, Page 2 of 2 VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Abney to accept a donation of a new well in Veterans Park by American Drilling Services, Inc [valued at $7,800.00]. Motion Carried Unanimously. B. Mrs. Heather Dobbs, Director of Grants and Special Programs, introduced the Okeechobee County School Board Buddy Mentoring Program and asked for those interested in volunteering to contact her. C. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Keefe to approve a settlement proposal in the case of City of Okeechobee, Florida v. Gloria Rodriquez, et.al., Case No. 47 2020 CC 000 190 CC AX MX [Code Enforcement Case No. 18-043]. Motion Carried Unanimously. D. The consensus of the Council was to hold the semi-annual Town Hall meeting on March 22, 2021, 6:00 P.M., at the Okeechobee County Freshman Campus Auditorium located at 610 Southwest 2nd Avenue. The opening will be a presentation by the Administrator on current and future development projects followed by a presentation by the City Attorney on the progress of the Charter Review Committee. Questions and comments from the audience will commence upon completion of the presentations. The second portion will be a candidate forum for the City Special Election. Council requested Clerk Gamiotea to research having the event broadcasted on WOKC and present the findings at the next meeting. VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE Attorney Fumero gave a summary of the Citizens Charter Review Advisory Committee meeting held February 11, 2021. He then briefly summarized proposed changes to Chapter 18 of the Code of Ordinances that is forthcoming for Council consideration. VIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS Council Member Abney questioned the status of the audio and video system upgrade. Council Member Keefe asked about and was provided an update on the sinkhole located on Southwest 7th Avenue and 2nd Street. Council Member Clark commented about the COVID-19 vaccination process in the County. She also provided information from the Okeechobee County Healthy Start Coalition, and the Tourist Development Council. IX. Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:48 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.