2021-06-01 Approved MinutesI •
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
.1UNE 1, 2021, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
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, June 1, 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
Roll was taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum. Members present:
Mayor powling R. Watford, Jr., Council Members Noel Chandler, Monica Clark, Bob
Jarriel, and Bobby Keefe.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Mayor Watford asked whether there were any agenda items to be added,
deferred, or withdrawn; New Business Items G and H were added.
B
C
Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to
approve the agenda as amended. Motion Carried Unanimously.
There were no comment cards submitted for public participation.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to approve
consent agenda item A, May 18, 2021, regular meeting minutes. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion by Council Member Chandler, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to not
consider issuing a proclamation recognizing Gay Pride Month. Motion Carried.
B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Clark to
approve an Addendum to delete Section 4.9 of the existing Interlocal Agreement
with Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) [as provided in Exhibit 1]. Motion
Withdrawn.
Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to amend
Section 4.9 of the Interlocal Agreement with Okeechobee County and OUA to
allow compensation for OUA Board members; that the compensation amounts,
and implementation be approved by the City and County. Motion Carried
Unanimously. This item will be readdressed before the Council for final
consideration.
C. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Chandler to
approve the temporary closure of Northwest 3rd Avenue between 4t" and 5tn
Streets during weekdays for the purpose of administering driver's license road
tests [as provided in Exhibit 2]. Motion Carried.
D. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to
approve the proposed City Administrator Employment Agreement between the
City and Mr. Gary Ritter [as provided in Exhibit 3; the initial start date is June 21,
2021, with an annual salary of $93,000.00, during the three-month evaluation
period his title will be Interim Administrator]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
E. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Clark to
reassign Mr. Wes Abney from an ex-officio non-voting member to a regular
member of the Citizens Charter Review Advisory Committee [as provided in
Exhibit 4]. Motion Carried Unanimously. No action was taken on the vacancies
left from the resignations of Mr. Noel Chandler and Mr. Gary Ritter.
JUNE 1, 2021, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, PAGE 1 OF 2
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V. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED.
F. The following Liaison Board reappointments were made by consensus [see
Exhibit 5]: Interim Administrator Ritter to the Okeechobee Economic
Development Corporation as of June 21, 2021 [replacing MontesDeOca];
Council Member Chandler as Alternate Member to the Treasure Coast
Council of Local Governments and the Treasure Coast Regional League of
Cities [replacing Abney]; Council Member Keefe to the Okeechobee County
Tourist Development Council (TDC) [replacing Abney]; and Council Member
Chandler to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council [replacing Keefe
who resigned to fill the TDC seat].
G. ITEM ADDED TO AGENDA: Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by
Council Member Keefe to approve Amendment No. 1 to Florida Department of
Environmental Protection Grant No. LPQ0007, extending the end date to
December 30, 2022, and changing the Grant Administrator from Administrator
MontesDeOca to Public Works Director Allen [as provided in Exhibit 6, distributed
at the meeting]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
An Engineer for the City will be assigned to the grant once they are hired. In
relation to the subject, as provided in the Consultants Competitive Negotiations
Act, a ranking committee will be required to review the responses to the Request
For Qualifications and submit their ranking to the Council for approval. By
consensus, Council Member Clark was appointed to the ranking committee.
H. ITEM ADDED TO AGENDA: Ms. Connie Vanassche with CAS Governmental
Services, LLC gave a summary of the 2020 Legislative Session; and provided
the timeline for submitting information for the 2021 Delegation Hearings.
VI. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
Attorney Fumero reported on the progress of a proposed demolition ordinance, and
nuisance abatement ordinance. The Brantley, Kemp, and Capetta Code Enforcement
Cases have been settled; South Florida BBQ has agreed to settle their Case in full as
of today. On the transfer of fire services, a notice of termination letter for the medical
director contract is forthcoming. He received a letter from the Local 2918 Union Attorney
with a list of requests; the County will be responding as the collective bargaining
agreement is between the County and the Union. He is diligently working on resolving a
billing issue from CSX for the Northwest 9th Avenue railroad crossing.
VII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
Administrator MontesDeOca expressed his gratitude for giving him the opportunity to
serve the City over the last five years.
VIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Keefe questioned the status of the Primitive Baptist Church property;
Finance Director Riedel responded the current year tax certificate has been purchased.
As of July 1, the City will be able to purchase the tax deed for the first tax certificate
purchased. Council Member Clark reminded everyone that North Parrott Avenue will
be closed at the railroad crossing for repairs from June 14 through 24. The Mayor and
Council collectively welcomed Council Member Chandler back to the Council [this is his
first meeting; the investiture ceremony was held at 5:00 p.m. today]. Each extended well
wishes to Administrator MontesDeOca on his next endeavor, this is his last meeting
serving as the City Administrator.
IX. ADJOURN; Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 7:38 P.M.
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Lane Gamiotea, C;MC, 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, s/he 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.
JUNE 1, 2021, CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, PAGE 2 OF 2