2022-02-01 Approved Minutes207
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
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FEBRUARY 1, 2022, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on
February 1, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast (SE) 3rd Avenue,
Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation was offered by Mayor Watford, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by Council Member Jarriel.
IL ATTENDANCE
Roll was taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum. Members present: Mayor Dowling R.
Watford, Jr., Council Members Noel A. Chandler, Monica M. Clark, Robert "Bob" Jarriel, and Robert "Bobby"
Keefe, Jr.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Mayor Watford asked whether there were any agenda items to be added, deferred, or withdrawn. Clerk
Gamiotea noted an Addendum for New Business Items "B" Exhibit 3, and "C" Exhibit 4 were distributed
to be added to the contracts.
B. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Clark to approve the agenda as
presented. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. No comment cards were submitted for public participation for issues not on the agenda.
IV. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMTIONS
A. Fire Chief Herb Smith accompanied by his wife, son, and former City Fire Lieutenants, was recognized
by Mayor Watford and Administrator Gary Ritter for his years of service. He was presented with a
monetary award of $750.00 and a framed certificate, which read "In recognition of your 30 years of
service, hard work, and dedication to the City, its citizens and your fellow employees from
February 3, 1992, through February 3, 2022."
V. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Clark to:
A. [Dispense with the reading and] approve the meeting Minutes for January 4, 2022, as correct by
removing Nick Martini from New Business Item "A".
B. Approve a request from Okeechobee Christian Academy to temporarily close SE 2nd Avenue between
SE 6th to 7th Street's on February 18, 2022, for a Field Day [as presented in Exhibit 1].
C. Approve a request from Okeechobee Main Street to temporarily close Southwest (SW) 2nd, 3rd, and
4th Avenue's between North and South Park Street's, and South Park Street between SW 31d and 4th
Avenue's, from 5:00 P.M. February 4, 2022, through 4:00 P.M. February 6, 2022, for the Annual Top
of the Lake Art Festival [as presented in Exhibit 21. Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Deputy Fire Chief Earl Wooten distributed a written quarterly update on services provided by
Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue, within the City from October 1, through December 31, 2021.
They responded to 320 incidents, of which 275 were for emergency medical services, and they
completed 62 fire prevention inspections. The report has been incorporated into the official minute file.
This item is for informational purposes only, no official action is required.
B. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Clark to approve a contract with Craig
A. Smith and Associates in the amount of $49,924.00 for City Commerce Center improvements
[including the Addendum as presented in Exhibit 31. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. Motion by Council Member Clark, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve a contract with
Solitude Lake Management, LLC in the amount of $14,970.00 for [a portion of the Augustus] canal
cleanup [as recorded in as recorded in Plat Book 3, Page 20 for OKEECHOBEE ESTATES, Plat Book
3, Page 23 for FIRST ADDITION TO OKEECHOBEE ESTATES, and Plat Book 3, Page 52 for THIRD
ADDITION TO OKEECHOBEE ESTATES, including the Addendum as presented in Exhibit 4]. Motion
Carried Unanimously.
D. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Jarriel to approve the RFQ NO. ADM
01-32-11-21, General Planning Services Ranking [1. Morris-DepewAssociates, 2. LaRue Planning and
Management Services, Inc. as presented in Exhibit 5]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
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VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
Creating procedures for quasi-judicial matters for the Code Enforcement and Council meetings.
Will be creating a standard check list for all contracts to be reviewed by him prior to submitting them for
agenda items.
IX. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• The landscape architect will present the remaining plans and designs for the Flagler Park at the next
meeting.
• River Run residents met with RaceTrac's representatives, in attendance on behalf of the City were
Administrator Ritter, Building Official Jeff Newell, Code Enforcement Officer Anthony Smith, and Public
Works Director David Allen. A representative from RaceTrac took pictures to document residents'
complaints and their findings.
• The two large oak trees in front of City Hall are scheduled to be cut down tomorrow, an arborist confirmed
they are diseased.
• Reminder to Council to review the Strategic Plan and powerpoint.
• Public Works Director Allen provided to RaceTrac, the elevations, and surveys, they have agreed to move
the perimeter wall.
• Public Works staff cleaned out the stormwater ponds within River Run to get the water flowing.
X. COUNCIL COMMENTS
• Council Member Jarriel asked City Clerk Gamiotea the status of researching costs to mail Charter
information to the residents, she is working on the request.
• Council Members Chandler and Clark again thanked Chief Smith for his years of service.
XI. - ADJOURN, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:42 P.M.
Submitted By:
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Lane Gamiotea, CIVIC, tity 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.
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