2022-06-21 Handwritten MinutesI
JUNE 21, 2022, COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
HEATHER PRINCE HANDWRITTEN 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 21, 2022, at :i '•v-' P.M. in the City Council Chambers,
located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida. --
The invocation was offered by d followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance led by Y b J
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II. ATTENDANCE taken by C+t ie ea to establish a quorum:
PRESENT ABSENT
Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr. 4;>
Council Member Chandler ✓"
Council Member Clark rv,G; ZC�A)
_ Council Member Jarriel
Council Member Keefe
Staff present were:
City Attorney Johh flkmelzc Administrative Secretary Merydian Causier
City Administrator Gary Ritter Executive Assistant Robin Brock
Police Chief Donald Hagan Deputy City Clerk Heather Prince
Public Works Director David Allen
AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Requests for the addition, deferral, or withdrawal of agenda items.
3. Motion and second by Council Members and in to
approve the agenda as presented/amended.
VOTE: Char dler , Clark Jarriel , Keefe Watford ✓
Motion: Carrie ailed.
There were agenda item forms or comment cards submitted for public
participation for any issues not on the agenda.
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PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS _--wan
A. Introduction of new Okeechobee High School Football Coach, B.J. Pryor.
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V. CONSENT AGENDA _.._.�,�
A. Motion and second by Council Members 1`1eLk�- and J6LrViQ,(1 to
[dispense with the reading and] approve the May 2022 Warrant Register [as presented in
Exhibit 1].
VOTE: Chandler , Clark , Jarriel , Keefe , Watford
Motion:(�irried/Failed.
A NEW BUSINESS
A. Consider approval of a Capital Projects Budget Workshop at 5:00 p.m. on July 5, 2022,
regarding high profile projects.
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B. Review and approve expenditures received from Okeechobee Main Street's General
Contractor for the Cattlemen's Square Project [as presented in Exhibit 2].
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NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
C. Motion and second by Council Members -6� and to approve
payment of the Chamber of Commerce water bills in the amount of $945.77 [as presented
in Exhibit 31.
VOTE: Chandler , Clark L, , Jarriel �, Keefe ; Watford
Moti n. Carried/Failed
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D. Consider approval of Grant FIBRS 2021-FBSFA-F2-043 in the amount of $36,675.00 from
the State of Florida Criminal Justice Information Services of FDLE [as presented in Exhibit
4].
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VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
E. Motion and second by Council Members and L to renew
City Administrator Employment Agreement [as presented in Exhibit 51.
VOTE: Chandler ' , Clark _-v Jarriel , Keefe , Watford
Motion:;'Carried/Failed
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VII. CITY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
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VIII. - CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
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IX. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
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XI. ADJOURN MEETING _ s
There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Watford adjoulmed the meeting at '
----- - '� P.M.
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JUNE 21, 2022, COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
MERYDIAN CAUSIER HANDWRITTEN 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 21, 2022, 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 Chad Keathley
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Watford
ATTENDANCE taken by Deputy City Clerk Heather Prince to establish a quorum:
PRESENT ABSENT
Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr. _x_
Council Member Chandler x
Council Member Clark x
Council Member Jarriel x
Council Member Keefe x
Staff present were:
City Attorney Administrative Secretary Merydian Causier
City Administrator Gary Ritter Executive Assistant Robin Brock
Police Chief Donald Hagan Deputy City Clerk Heather Prince
Public Works Director David Allen
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Requests for the addition, deferral, or withdrawal of agenda items.
none
B. Motion and second by Council Members keefe and
�jarriel to approve the agenda as presentedlamended.
VOTE: Chandler—X—, Clark_ X , Jarriel_ X _, Keefe_ X _, Watford_ X_.
Motion: Carried/Failed.
C. There were _0 agenda item forms or comment cards submitted for public
participation for any issues not on the agenda.
IV. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
A. Introduction of new Okeechobee High School Football Coach, B.J. Pryor.
New coach for Okeechobee High School Brahmans- Coach Pryor
Coach: working with PD and FD, took pictures with every admin in the county. Introduced the staff
DC- jeff whitlock, OC- ?? JV coach- Striebel. Nice squad of young people. Getting along with staff
well and with the community. Will be going to the Down and Dirty camp this coming week. Will be
having car washes soon and other things around the community.
DW: just talking about how great Ken Keller is. He coached OCRA football and was just
reminiscing about the times.
Pryor: kids attitudes are good right now and want to keep it that way. Want to continue pushing to
learn. Are you better than you were yesterday?
From TX, played football at North Dakota. Bringing people with different backgrounds together and
coaching them together. Has been a headcoach at a multitude of schools.
Jeff Whitlock: played football in KY and played college ball. Served in the Marines. Went back to
college and got his degree. Started coaching under coach Branham. MOD- men of distinction: they
are fed, taken to camps so they are noticed, speak life into these men. Raise the quality of young
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men in the program that come through school. Son, friend, husband, father, and then grandfather.
How to honor your parents and respect those around them. Need for football- stands packed on
Friday nights.
Pryor: collaboration to build success.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Motion and second by Council Members keefe and
_jarriel to [dispense with the reading and] approve the May 2022
Warrant Register [as presented in Exhibit 1].
VOTE: Chandler X_, Clark_X Jarriel_X Keefe_X ,
Watford_X_.
Motion: Carried/Failed.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Consider approval of a Capital Projects Budget Workshop at 5:00 p.m. on July 5, 2022,
regarding high profile projects.
GR: get started at looking at the projects that will begin in the next FY. Prepare for where we need
to go in the future.
DW: we will have the workshop on the 5th
B. Review and approve expenditures received from Okeechobee Main Street's General
Contractor for the Cattlemen's Square Project [as presented in Exhibit 2].
DW: 30,000 to approve expenditures
BJ: charge for a permit why?
GR: it's legality, we have to charge because that's how it goes.
Motion and second by Council Members jarriel and
keefe to [dispense with the reading and] approve the May 2022
Warrant Register [as presented in Exhibit 1].
VOTE: Chandler X_, Clark_X Jarriel_X Keefe_X ,
Watford_X_.
Motion: Carried/Failed.
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VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
C. Motion and second by Council Members keefe and —jarriel
to approve payment of the Chamber of Commerce water bills in the amount of $945.77 [as
presented in Exhibit 3].
VOTE: Chandler X_, Clark_X , Jarriel_X , Keefe_X_, Watford X_.
Motion: Carried/Failed
GR: first couple of bills in 2021, new landscaping was put in and well was not working so had to
use city water. Well is fixed and off timer
BJ: one time deal?
GR: yes
D. Consider approval of Grant FIBRS 2021-FBSFA-F2-043 in the amount of $36,675.00 from
the State of Florida Criminal Justice Information Services of FDLE [as presented in Exhibit
4].
Motion and second by Council Members iarriel and
chandler to [dispense with the reading and] approve the May 2022
Warrant Register [as presented in Exhibit 1].
VOTE: Chandler X_, Clark_X Jarriel_X Keefe_X ,
Watford_X
Motion: Carried/Failed.
DH: no stipulations, it's free money we just have to fill it out.
BT: need it for a new interface that is mandatory to have
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VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
E. Motion and second by Council Members keefe and ___jarriel
to renew City Administrator Employment Agreement [as presented in Exhibit 5].
VOTE: Chandler_X_, Clark_X_, Jarriel_XKeefe_X_, Watford_X_.
Motion: Carried/Failed
JF: change the renewal to be some other time than in July -August.
DW: change it to coincide with the contract and annual evaluation
JF: 2-2 year renewals.
DW: Gary has done a wonderful job for us. His performance is wonderful.
JF: in 2 years we will be doing this again
BJ: Gary has done a wonderful job and we can see the improvements around town.
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VII. CITY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
DH: 3305 traffic citations from January. 225 accidents since then, complaints: 2598.
Cases: ongoing investigations, Code enforcement: very active, demo ordinance- it takes
money; city has to clean up, Jeff Newell is taking the lead on these. Get city cleaned up
where these old buildings are. 8 BTRs that have not renewed so CE has been reaching
out. Still have 2 vacancies. There is a massive epidemic in this category.
PB: 161 building permits, FY 124000. Some places are running into issues getting
supplies that's why they are taking so long. Lots of inquiries from homeowners for
inspectors. 14000 fees for applications. Working on some rezonings and other LDRs. Will
start creating a spreadsheet of what needs to be brought in for certain things in general
services. Last year at this time: 176,000 which does not include surcharges. At 124,000
right now. Cost and supplies is what's slowing people down.
IR: BTR- Y2D: 64 through end of May, 8 regulatory business (home based BTR) 8 new
insurance companies. Being reactive to the 8 BTRs that will need PD force. Workshop will
be July 5 at 5pm. Deed increase at 377000 dollars. Sales tax is still strong. Not looking at
millage until 2nd meeting of July. PRM- member driven pool self insured. Elected to
executive board for PRM. Open enrollment starting at end of July.
DW: anticipate contract with urgent care
IR: yes has helped claims tremendously.
DA: cattlemen's square is coming along. SW 5th Ave project- survey has been completed,
60% plan will be submitted to FDOT. SE stormwater project is moving along nicely.
SHenadoah is moving along, just trying to schedule.Did get money for a small kayak
launch. Received 240,000$ grant- wants to get the complete design so when we get back
we already have a project ready to rock and roll with. Scheduling a meeting with Kimely
Horn on that matter. Paving- CW Roberts will hold the same pricing- SW 21St: 5th _ 3rd
Ave, 100 Blk of NW 3rd St- will have to mill down here; SE 10th St- needs improvements.
Sidewalk repair- will be working on a new bid for this, next bid will go out and be
sidewalks.
3rd of manhole is paved over. Excited about getting stormawater maps up to date.
Major axel issue with the new John Deere Backhoe; major rebuild on the rear end of the
backhoe- probably time to replace this backhoe soon. PW is down one employee.
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Vill. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
Continuing to monitor WC case; working with gary on annexation of airi acres; looking at TRC and
authority and what options are there to make it a non -Sunshine entity. TRC members should be
talking about these things all the time, not just in the meeting. Working on the fireworks ordinance
DW: want to be as transparent as we possibly can. TRC meetings still open to the public?
JF: yes absolutely, more if you talk about a particular subject than taking the TRC out of the public.
Decisions will still be made in the meeting.
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IX. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
GR: Thank you for the confidence in me. The staff is busy and hardworking dedicated individuals;
we have 12 grants right now involved with the PW, want to get the money into the community to do
these projects. Resubmitted city hall and FD as a public safety building- emergency operations
building. 2 things going with city hall. The grant process is time consuming- primitive Baptist
church is still being worked on.
BK: approved sale for the lot to be sold; how will the lot be sold?
GR: make sure we sell it right to make sure its formal.
JF: must be declared as surplus.
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X. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
BJ: economic development was there- had 21 kids there, Kaylee will be on next meeting to speak
on that.
BK: thank you for the reports.
XI. ADJOURN MEETING
There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at
7:09 P.M.
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