2021-08-17 Approved Minutes•�
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�CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
AUGUST 1 i�, 2021, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
,AND FINAL BUDGET VUORKSHOP
MEETING MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called tr�e regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee
to order on Tuesday, ,4ugust 17, 2021, at 5:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers,
located at 55 Southeas.t 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
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 Kee1=e.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLII� COMMENTS
A. Mayor Watford asked whether there were any agenda items to be added,
deferred, or wi�hdrawn. Due to advertising, Items III. Agenda and Public
Comments, IV. F'resentations and Proclamations, VII. City Attorney Update, VIII.
City Administratc�r Update, and IX. Council Comments would be considered first;
action items uncier Consent Agenda and New Business cannot be considered
until 6:00 P.M. Should there be remaining time prior to 6:00 P.M. a recess will be
taken, or a portic>n of the Budget Workshop would be reviewed.
�
C.
Motion by Council Member Chandler, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to
approve the agenda as amended. Motion Carried Unanimously.
There were no �omment cards submitted for public participation at this time.
Council Comments were re-opened due to the amended agenda; see page two.
IV. PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATIONS
A. Mayor Watford proclaimed the month of September 2021 as Hunger Action
Month. A procla�nation was presented to Ronald Wise and Holly Mixon of the
Treasure Coast f=ood Bank and read into the record as follows: "Whereas, hunger
and poverty rem�ain issues of grave concern in the United States, the State of
Florida, the Treasure Coast, and the City of Okeechobee, with 7,776 children and
adults in Okeechobee County now categorized as food insecure; and Whereas,
the City of Okeechobee is committed to taking steps to raise awareness about
the need to corribat hunger in every part of our City and to provide additional
resources that the citizens of Okeechobee need; and Whereas, the City of
Okeechobee is committed to working with the Treasure Coast Food Bank in
mobilizing peoplE� about the role and importance of food banks and other hunger
relief organizatic�ns in addressing hunger and bringing attention to the need to
devote more res�urces and attention to hunger issues; and Whereas, food banks
and hunger relie� organizations across the country, including the Treasure Coast
Food Bank, coordinated Hunger Action Day on September 17, 2021 and will
continue to host numerous events throughout the month of September to shed
light on this impartant issue and encourag� involvement in efforts to end hunger
in their local community. Now, Therefore, I, Dowling R. Watford, Jr., by virtue of
the authority ves�ed in me as Mayor of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, do hereby
proclaim the morith of September 2021 as `Hunger Action Month'."
B. Mayor Watford presented a Certificate of Appreciation to former City
Administrator M�ircos Montes De Oca, which was read into the record as follows:
"Certificate of Appreciation extended to Marcos Montes De Oca for his faithful
service and dedication as the City Administrator City of Okeechobee, Florida
October 1, 2015, to June 18, 2021."
VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPD�ATE: no update was provided.
AUGUST 17, 2021, CITY COIINCIL REGULAR MEETING & WORKSHOP MINUTES, PAGE 1 OF 3
169
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
Interim Administrator Ritter provided a brief update on the outcome of the August 16,
2021, Flagler Park D�sign Review Advisory Committee (FPDRAC) meeting. He,
together with representatives from Okeechobee Main Street and Calvin, Giordano, and
Associates (CGA), will meet to generate a revised budget and plan for the Cattlemen's
Square Project to be presented to the FPDRAC on September 2, 2021. Once finalized,
representatives of the FPDRAC will make the presentation to Council and other
agencies as needed. The draft contract with Taymer Properties, LLC for the purchase
of Lots 17A and 17B ir� the City Commerce Center was mailed August 13, 2021. The
fully executed propos�l No. P4142 from Craig A. Smith and Associates has been
received; they anticipat�e starting at the end of September.
IX. COUNCIL COMMENTy
Council Member Clark explained that Sharie Turgeon of the Okeechobee County
Tourist Development C�uncil offered support for ihe FLAGLER PARK project. She also
updated the Council on the number of clients that Healthy Start is currently serving.
Council Member Charadler and Keefe spoke briefly on the Cattlemen's Square project
with Council Member K�efe recommending the Council consider increasing the amount
budgeted. The consensus was to review the revised conceptual plan before making this
decision.
MAYOR WATFORD RIECESSED THE MEETINC AT 5:34 P.M. AND RECONVENED
AT 6:00 P.M.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT�: Mayor Watford re-opened public comments.
C. There were two comment cards submitted for public participation. Ms. Casey
Rogers provided information on Rite Life Services, Incorporated located at 202
Northeast 2nd Street, which is a non-profit peer support organization that offers
a wide variety of services to the community. They currently have funding to assist
individuals, focu:sing on the homeless and recovering addicts, with medication,
substance abuse and mental health treatment, transportation to and from
appointments, ar�d housing. The grand opening is scheduled for August 25, 2021,
at 12:00 P.M. A virtual walk for overdose awareness month will also be held the
same day. A Narcan training class will be held on August 29, 2021, at 3:00 P.M.
Suicide awareness meetings are currently being held; all our welcome.
Mr. Brandon Tucker, Chairman of the Economic Council of Okeechobee (ECOK)
requested the C�uncil consider adopting a Reserve Fund Balance policy, as it is
the opinion of EC;OK the balance is larger than it needs to be and could be used
on projects that would encourage economic development.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Clark to approve
Consent Agenda Items A[Temporary Street Closing request from Okeechobee Main
Street to close Southwest 3�d Avenue between North and South Park Streets for "Movie
Night in the Park" on October 9, 2021, November 13, 2021, December 10, 2021, January
8, 2022, February 12, 2022, March 5, 2022, and April 9, 2022 from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. as
provided in Exhibit 1], and B[Temporary Street Closing request from Okeechobee Main
Street to close SouthwFst 3rd and 4t" Avenues for the Labor Day Festival on September
5, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. until September 6, 2021 at 10:00 P.M. as provided in Exhibit 2].
Motion Carried Unanirnously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion by Counr,il Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Clark to read
proposed Ordin�nce No. 1236 by title only revising Section 2-172, Chapter 34,
[this portion of the motion should not have been included as it is addressed in the
next item: and Table 2 of Appendix G] of the City Code of Ordinances to reflect
changes as a result of the City entering into an Interlocal Agreement with
Okeechobee County to provide fire services within the City [as provided in Exhibit
3]. Motion Carri�ed Unanimously.
Mayor Watford rE�ad proposed Ordinance No. 1236 by title only as follows:
"AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA;
REVISING SECTION 2-172 AND CHAPTER 34 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES TO REFLECT CHANGES AS A RESULT OF THE CITY
AUGUST 17, 2021, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING & WORKSHOP MINUTES, PAGE 2 OF 3
170
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
A. CONTINUED: LNTERING INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FIRE SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY;
PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Clark to
approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 1236 and set September 7,
2021, as the Final Public Hearing date. Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Motion by Counc;il Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Keefe to adopt
proposed Resol�ation No. 2021-06 amending the schedule of fees for inspection
and enforcement of fire safety codes to adopt Okeechobee County's inspection
fee schedule [as provided in Exhibit 4].
Mayor Watford read proposed Resolution IVo. 2021-06 by title only as follows: "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE,
FLORIDA; AME�IDING RESOLUTION NO. 2018-10, APPENDIX G, TABLE 2,
OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES WHICH ADOPTS THE SCHEDULE OF
FEES FOR INSPECTION AND ENFORGEMENT OF FIRE SAFETY CODES;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, seconded by Council Member Clark to
approve the settlement agreement offer [in the amount of $4,500.00] for Bella
Rose Day Spa and Salon, LLC, D/B/A Bella Rose Day Spa, in the appellate case
of Bella Rose Day Spa and Salon, LLC, D/B/A Bella Rose Day Spa v. City of
Okeechobee, Flc�rida, in the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in and
for Okeechobee County, Circuit Case No. 21-AP-100, City Case No. 200312003
[as provided in E:xhibit 5]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
X. MAYOR WATFORD FtECESSED THE REGULAR MEETING AND OPENED THE
BUDGET WORKSHOF' AT 6:19 P.M.
A. Finance Director Riedel distributed a document that provided the identification of
revised items from the August 11, 2021, Workshop. The overall Fiscal Year 2021-
2022 budget was decreased by $542,300.00. A detailed listing of line item
decreases was distributed as well as a revised budget dated August 16, 2021,
3:14 P.M., all oi� which has been incorporated in the minute file. After a brief
discussion on �tilizing the American Rescue Plan dollars to assist with
stormwater needs of the Commerce Center, the Council directed Staff to shift
$45,000.00 frorn the Public Facilities Improvement Fund to the Capital
Improvement Projects Fund to accomplish this. The Council thanked Staff for
making the red�actions. No additional direction was provided. The proposed
budget dated August 16, 2021, will be presented at the First Hearing scheduled
for September 7, 2021.
XI. MAYOR WATFORD ,ADJOURNED THE WORKSHOP AND RECONVENED IN
REGULAR SESSION �T 6:42 P.M.
Council Member Clark questioned whether the $15,000.00 budgeted for the Tree
Program could be earrr�arked for the Cattlemen's Square Project. Interim Administrator
Ritter and Public Works Director Allen responded those funds have been identified
including the two trees in front of City Hall, and improving the landscape along South
Park Street. The con:�ensus was to review the revised budget plan and before
earmarking specific fun�s. This item is tentatively being scheduled for the September 7,
2021, Council meeting but predicated on action by the FPDRAC at the September 2,
2021, meeting.
XII. ADJOURN: Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:45 P.M.
Sub itted By:
C��2 � i ;
Lane Gamiotea, C C, City ClE�rk
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.
AUGUST 17, 2021, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING & WORKSHOP MINUTES, PAGE 3 OF 3