2021-11-04 Approved Minutes��:� S :oFJ'oKE Cy
E G�
' z , _, �� m .
E� n� CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
.� l6 -_� \p �
`�r� �� � CITIZENS CHARTER REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE
„
SPECIAL MEETING AND .101NT WORKSHOP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
OFFICIAL MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of Citizen Charter Review Advisory Committee (CCRAC) Chairperson
Whirls, Mayor Watford called the meeting to order on Thursday, November 4, 2021,
at 6:04 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3�d Avenue, Room
200, Okeechobee, Florida.
II. ATTENDANCE
Roll was taken by CCRAC Secretary Patty Burnette to establish a quorum. Members
present: Mayor powling R. Watford Jr., Council Members Noel Chandler, Monica
Clark, Bob Jarriel, and Bobby Keefe; CCRAC Members Wes Abney, Suzanne Bowen,
Sandy Perry, Cary Pigman, Hoot Worley, and Jeremy LaRue (entered the chambers
at 6:33 P.M.). Absent with consent were CCRAC Chair Myranda Whirls and Member
James Gamiotea.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Motion by Member Jarriel, seconded by Member Clark to adopt the agenda as
presented. Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for any issues not
on the agenda.
Mayor Watford opened the floor for nominations for a CCRAC Temporary
Chairperson. By majority consensus of the CCRAC Members present, Member
Worley was appointed. Mayor Watford yielded the floor the CCRAC Chair Pro-
Tempore Worley to oversee the remainder of the meeting.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion by Member Perry, seconded by Member Pigman to dispense with the
reading and approve the July 8, 2021, Regular Meeting minutes. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
V. CHAIR PRO-TEM WORLEY RECESSED THE MEETING AND OPENED THE JOINT
WORKSHOP AT 6:08 P.M.
A. The purpose of the workshop was for the two boards to review the proposed City
Charter which reflects all the recommendations to date by the CCRAC. The
following areas were specifically noted for amendments, corrections, or as a topic
of discussion:
C-1.3 Corporate Boundary. The last annexation legal description is not included,
Attorney Fumero will add this information into the final document.
C-2.1 City Council, third paragraph under Meetings, amend the paragraph to
reflect or such shorter time as three Council Members shall deem necessary in
case of an emergency affecting the public health, safety, welfare, or the public
peace. And reword portion of the sentence using "no less than" to "less than" for
easier understanding.
C-2.2 Mayor and Vice Mayor, (d) amend to reflect the same language as provided
in C-5.2(i), first Council meeting in the month of January of such year instead of
November.
C-2.5 Vacancies; ForFeiture of Office; Filing of Vacancies. Paragraph (b) Forfeiture
of Office, paragraph ii), change six regular meetings to five. Paragraph (c) Filling
of vacancies. By majority consensus of the Council, Attorney Fumero to reword
this section to implement the current process provided in Code Section 2-39.
C-3.3 Acting City Administrator. No changes, only noted that this process could
create an awkward situation.
•�
•
CCRAC SPECIAL MEETING & CITY COUNCIL JOINT WORKSHOP MINUTES, 11-4-2021, PAGE 1 OF 2
190
V. WORKSHOP CONTINUED
A. Continued. C-4.2 Prohibitions, (c) Holding Other Office. Add language to exclude
City Administrator from this paragraph.
C-4.4 Emergency Ordinance, (b) Procedure. Amend to reflect when adopting an
emergency ordinance, must be by a majority vote instead of by three members.
C-6.1 Procedure to Amend, (b) Initiative by Petition and (c) Submission to Electors.
Notation that when initiated by petition, could cause a special election.
C-7.2 Conflicts of Interest; Ethical Standards. Attorney Fumero will rewrite the
second paragraph to make it correspond to Chapter 112 of the State Ethics Code
so it would not eliminate local businesses.
C-7.3 City Personnel System. City Clerk Gamiotea provided to Attorney Fumero
to amend to read "All employment, appointments and promotions of City officers
and employees shall be made pursuant to personnel policies and procedures to
be established by the Administrator or City Clerk from time to time and approved
by City Council. The City Council officially adopts the Employee policies and
procedures, but they are presented for adoption by the Personnel Administrator.
Items of discussions throughout workshop included term limits for Council
Members, numbering City Council seats, and the form of government in C-1.2
which is "Mayor - City Council - Administrator." The proposed recommended
organizational structure is that the Mayor and City Council will hire/fire the City
Attorney, City Administrator, the Chief of Police, and leave the Office of the City
Clerk elected. The majority of the Council was in favor of leaving it elected at this
time. However, it will be discussed further along with the other items noted. [For
clarification the City Administrator is currently the Head of the Departments of
Administration, Finance, and General Services. The proposed Charter would move
the Public Works Department to also be under their direct management. The Fire
Department is not addressed due to the City now contracting that service to the
Board of County Commissioners through an interlocal agreement].
CHAIR PRO-TEM WORLEY ADJOURNED THE WORKSHOP AND RECONVENED
THE SPECIAL MEETING AT 8:04 P.M.
VI. ADJOURN MEETING
There being no further items on the agenda, Chair Pro-Tem Worley adjourned the
meeting at 8:04 P.M.
Prepared and Submitted by:
.� �`�^
, ,
%� � `�r ���".fi
y 1 � � �,� =-- ',�, `�� �.� t 1., _
Lane� Gamiote�a, CMC, City Clerk
Approved on: i,�'; .:�� ,';�;,:- >�
Please take notice and be advised that when a person decides to appeal any decision made by the
CCRAC/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. Secretary/City Clerk media are for the sole purpose of backup for official records
of the Clerk.
CCRAC SPECIAL MEETING Hc CITY COUNCIL JOINT WORKSHOP MINUTES, 11-4-2021, PAGE 2 OF 2