2022-11-08 Draft Minutes `4s�'.F0KFF�,y. CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
• NOVEMBER 8, 2022, EMERGENCY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
a
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
♦ 915+
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the emergency meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on
November 8, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast (SE) 3rd Avenue,
Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
II. 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" M. Keefe, Jr.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Jarriel to approve the agenda as presented.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for issues not on the agenda.
IV. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING AT 2:02 P.M.
A. Motion and second by Council Members Clark and Keefe to read by title only, proposed Ordinance No.
1269, designating the Police Administrative Lieutenant as the City's Emergency Management Official
and authorizing other emergency measures due to the potential impacts of Subtropical
Storm/Hurricane Nicole [as presented in Exhibit 1]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
Mayor Watford read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1269 as follows: "AN
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE,
FLORIDA, DESIGNATING THE POLICE ADMINISTRATIVE LIEUTENANT AS THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL FOR THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE; PROVIDING FOR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE LIEUTENANT TO DECLARE A 72-HOUR STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHIN
THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE DUE TO THE PREDICTED PATH OF SUBTROPICAL
STORM/HURRICANE NICOLE; PROVIDING FOR ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE
ADMINISTRATIVE LIEUTENANT TO EXTEND THE 72-HOUR DECLARATION; PROVIDING FOR
DECLARATION TO CONTINUE FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME AS DEEMED
APPROPRIATE BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIEUTENANT; PROVIDING FOR AUTOMATIC
EMERGENCY MEASURES; PROVIDING FOR DISCRETIONARY EMERGENCY MEASURES;
PROVIDING FOR FILING DECLARATIONS AND MEASURES IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY
CLERK AND PUBLICATION TO NEWS MEDIA; PROVIDING FOR VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Clark to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1269.
There were no public comments. Mayor Watford and Administrator Ritter will continue to participate in
emergency management meetings and Clerk Gamiotea will keep the City Facebook page up to date.
City administrative offices, County offices, and all schools will be closed on Wednesday, November 9,
2022, and Thursday, November 10, 2022, due to potential weather impacts. City Hall is also closed on
Friday, November 11, 2022, in observance of Veterans Day. Motion Carried Unanimously.
MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEARING AT 2:06 P.M.
V. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 2:06 P.M.
Submitted By:
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, 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.
DRAFT NOVEMBER 8, 2022, CITY COUNCIL EMERGENCY MEETING, PAGE 1 OF 1