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DRAFT 2021-03-16 Minutes DRAFT Minutes, March 16, 2021, Page 1 of 2 CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA MARCH 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, March 16, 2021, at 6:02 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation was offered by Pastor Richard Barker of the Westside Christian Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Jarriel. II. ATTENDANCE Roll was taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum. 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 AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS A. No items were added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda.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 Keefe to approve the agenda as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. C. There was one comment card submitted for public participation for any issues not on the agenda. Mr. Brandon Tucker, Chairperson of the Economic Council of Okeechobee (ECOK), presented a request for the City to show a heavy code enforcement presence within the commercial corridor. He then distributed a list of six businesses that were reported on February 17, 2021, to code enforcement. The document has been incorporated into the minute file. IV. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Council Member Abney, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve consent agenda items A [March 2, 2021 regular meeting minutes], B [February 2021 Warrant Register: General Fund $484,332.81, Public Facilities Improvement Fund $9,742.17, and Capital Improvement Projects Fund $26,751.44], and C [ratify the appointment of J.P. Zeigler as the Fifth Member to the General Employees’ Pension Fund Board of Trustees, term being March 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021]. Motion Carried Unanimously. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Clark to approve a request from the Board of County Commissioners to relocate the Tourist Development Council office to the Chamber of Commerce building at 55 South Parrott Avenue. Motion Carried Unanimously. B. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve a professional service agreement [$250.00 per month] with MacVicar Consulting, Inc. for participation in the planning process for the development of a new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) by the Army Corps of Engineers. Motion Carried Unanimously. C. Based on the citizen board selection matrix, individual ranking forms and tally sheets, Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to appoint Mr. Robert “Bob” Burdge as an alternate member to the Flagler Park Design Review Advisory Committee. Motion Carried Unanimously. Ranking forms completed by the Mayor and Council and the tally sheet have been incorporated into the minute file. D. Assistant City Attorney Carlyn Kowalsky provided a presentation on the Code Enforcement Magistrate Hearing process, including what Florida Statutes Chapter 162 requires, the specific steps followed by Code Enforcement staff, and any new procedures recently implemented. The purpose of the presentation was to give the Council a level of comfort when considering the adoption of proposed Ordinance No. 1222 at the next meeting. DRAFT Minutes, March 16, 2021, Page 2 of 2 V. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED ITEM D CONTINUED: The Council amended the proposed changes at the first reading which were intended to streamline the process for fine reductions and foreclosures. The Council requested a reduction chart or fee schedule be presented to assist in their consideration. Attorney Fumero made it clear the ultimate goal of code enforcement is compliance. A copy of the presentation has been incorporated into the minute file. E. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Abney to approve the use of FLAGLER PARKS No. 2 and 3 to recognize the High School graduating class of 2021 with temporary signs featuring a photograph and name of each senior, displaying approximately one week before graduation on May 28 , 2021. Motion Carried Unanimously. VI. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE Attorney Fumero gave a summary of the meetings held to date for the Citizens Charter Review Advisory Committee. He also provided an update on the Fire Services Interlocal Agreement and confirmed receipt of a letter received today from a Law Firm representing the Local 2918 Fire Union requesting a legally binding Collective Bargaining Agreement. VII. COUNCIL COMMENTS Council Member Keefe requested and received a status update on the sinkhole located at Southwest 2nd Avenue and 8th Street. Mayor Watford confirmed that traffic will be rerouted from North Parrott Avenue at the railroad crossing due to construction for approximately 10 days in June 2021. VIII. Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 7:18 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.