2022-12-06 11/8 & 11/15 Draft Minutes , pFOIL
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F� CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
;LLm. NOVEMBER 8, 2022, EMERGENCY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
19 4s`r DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
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
STORMIHURRICANE 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.
I, NOVEMBER 8,2022, CITY COUNCIL EMERGENCY MEETING, PAGE 1 OF 1
oa"'� "' _ CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
+�� T NOVEMBER 15, 2022, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on
November 15, 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 Mayor Watford; followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance led by Council Member Jarriel.
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. There were no requests for items to be added, deferred, or withdrawn from the agenda.
B. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Jarriel to approve the agenda as presented. Motion
Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for issues not on the agenda.
IV. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
A. Mayor Watford proclaimed November 2022 as "Hospice and Palliative Care Month." The Proclamation
was presented to Mr. Phil Berger, Treasure Coast Operating Board of Directors, Ms. Terry Fesler,
Professional Relations, and Mr. Craig Perry, Community Outreach, and read into the record as follows:
"Whereas, Medicare's first proven coordinated care model, Hospice, is a program that works offering
person-centered, compassionate care, ensuring people dignity, choice, and quality of life; and Whereas,
the Hospice model involves an interdisciplinary, team-oriented approach to treatment, including expert
medical care,quality symptom control,and comprehensive pain management as a foundation of care;and
Whereas, beyond providing physical treatment, Hospice attends to the patient's emotional, spiritual, and
family needs, and provides family services like respite care and grief counseling; and Whereas, Hospice
and palliative care organizations are advocates and educators about advance care planning that help
individuals make decisions about the care they want; and Whereas, forty years ago, volunteers came
together to establish Treasure Coast Hospice because they wanted their family,friends,and neighbors to
have access to compassionate,quality end-of-life care from a locally based hospice provider. Founded in
1982, Treasure Coast Hospice is a non-profit community organization of skilled professionals and
dedicated volunteers whose mission is to provide access to compassionate, caring, expert and
professional hospice and grief support services to patients and families at the end of life. Celebrating its
40th Anniversary this year, Treasure Coast Hospice now serves more than 4,000 patients annually,
providing holistic patient-centered care and comfort to patients and families in Martin, St. Lucie, and
Okeechobee counties. Now Therefore, I, Dowling R.Watford,Jr., by virtue of the authority vested in me as
Mayor of the City of Okeechobee,do hereby proclaim November 2022 as Hospice and Palliative Care Month
in the City of Okeechobee and encourage our residents to learn more about Hospice and palliative care at
the end of life and try to help as they can and commend the Treasure Coast Hospice Team for their service
to the people of the City of Okeechobee."
B. Mayor Watford proclaimed November 16 through 23, 2022, as"Farm City Week."The Proclamation was
presented to Mr. Mickey Bandi, President, Okeechobee County Farm Bureau, accompanied by his
daughter, Lexi, and read into the record as follows: "Whereas, Florida farmers and ranchers help feed the
world by producing a bounty of nutritious foods.To do this,they rely on essential partnerships with urban
and rural communities to supply, sell and deliver finished products to consumers across Florida and
around the globe; and Whereas, rural and urban communities working together have built our nation's
rich agricultural resources so that they contribute to the health and well-being of our country and the
strength of our economy; and Whereas, during National Farm City Week,we recognize the importance of
this cooperative network. Agriculture and related enterprises employ more than 2 million workers,
including farmers and ranchers, shippers, processors, marketers, retailers, inspectors, and others who
contribute an annual impact of$146 billion to Florida's economy; and Whereas, Farm City Week activities
celebrate the mutually beneficial relationships that support the quality of life we all enjoy. This week, as
we gather with family and friends around the Thanksgiving table,we count these relationships among our
many blessings. Now Therefore, I, Dowling R.Watford,Jr., by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor
of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, do hereby proclaim November 16-23, 2022, as "Farm City Week," and
I do further call upon all citizens to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of all those who,working
together, produce and supply our community,our nation,and the world with an abundance of agricultural
products."
DRAF1 NOVEMBER 15, 2022, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 1 OF 3
V. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Clark to:
A. [Dispense with the reading and] approve the meeting Minutes for November 1, 2022 [as presented]; and
B. Approve the October 2022 Warrant Register[in the amounts: General Fund, $741,796.62; Public Facility
Improvement Fund, $41,227.43; and Capital Improvement Projects Fund, $45, 300.00, as presented].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Ms. Sandra Lawson, Public Affairs Specialist, from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),
provided information regarding resources available for those who suffered physical property damages
and/or economical damages caused by Hurricane Ian.Through a collaboration between the SBA and the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), homeowners, renters, owners of businesses, and/or
private non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for recovery assistance through November 28, 2022,
as well as for long-term, low-interest, loans. Once approved for recovery assistance, applicants have up
to two years following the disaster, to apply for additional funds to improve the property to mitigate future
loss. Individuals in an area that is a part of the disaster declaration, which includes all of Okeechobee,
are strongly encouraged to visit any of the FEMA Centers to ensure their applications are completed
properly and then apply for the SBA loans, regardless of whether or not they will pursue the loan, as this
opens the opportunity for other funding from FEMA, they may be eligible to receive. This item was for
informational purposes only with no official action required.
B. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Jarriel to approve a Temporary Street Closing
Application submitted by Okeechobee Main Street for a portion of Southwest 3rd and 4th Avenues,
between North and South Park Streets from 5:00 P.M., December 9, 2022, to 9:00 P.M. on December
10, 2022, for the annual Christmas Festival [as presented in Exhibit 2]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Clark to adopt proposed Resolution No. 2022-08 [as
presented in Revised Exhibit 3 and includes deleting "the Brat Club" in the fifth Whereas].
City Attorney Fumero read into the record the title of proposed Resolution No. 2022-08 as follows: "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 2019-
10 CONCERNING TEMPORARY CLOSING OF STATE ROADS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS; CREATING
PROCEDURES AND FORMS FOR SUBMISSION TO FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR STATE APPROVAL FOR SUCH CLOSINGS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Motion Carried
Unanimously.
D. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Clark to award the purchase of radios [Statewide
Law Enforcement Radio System, 35 portable radios, 26 mobile radios, and two control stations] to
Communication International in the amount of$320,695.30 [as presented in Exhibit 4]. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
E. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Clark to approve the End-of-Year (EOY) Budget
Amendments for Fiscal Year 2021-22 [as presented in Exhibit 5, with the summary of each fund noted
below providing the difference from the Budgeted to EOY]. Motion Carried Unanimously.
Adopted Mid-Year Budget End-of-Year Difference in
Budget Amendments Budget Mid-Year and EOY
Fund Summary 9/27/2021 5/17/2022 Amendments Amendments
General Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $4,342,501.00 $4,342,501.00 $4,342,501.00 $ 0.00
Total Revenues $6,228,680.00 $6,303,580.00 $6,856,130.00 +$ 552,550.00
Transfers-In,Public Facilities Improv't $ 350,000.00 $ 350,000.00 $ 350,000.00 $ 0.00
Transfers-In, Capital (Reserves Not Used)
Improvement Projects Fund $ 873,534.00 $ 738,207.00 $ 0.00 -$ 738,207.00
Total Expenditures $7,452,214.00 $7,391,787.00 $6,756,827.00 -$ 185,657.00
FYE Balance $4,342,501.00 $4,342,501.00 $4,791,804.00 +$ 449,303.00
Public Facility Improvement Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $ 923.970.00 $ 923,970.00 $ 923,970.00 $ 0.00
Total Revenues $2,158,701.00 $1,018,701.00 $ 959,268.00 -$ 59,433.00
Total Expenses $1,978,201.00 $ 892,011.00 $ 462,400.00 -$ 429,611.00
Transfers-Out to General Fund $ 350,000.00 $ 350,000.00 $ 350,000.00 $ 0.00
FYE Balance $ 754,470.00 $ 700,660.00 $ 1,070,838.00 +$ 370,178.00
Capital Improvement Projects Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $3,685,061.00 $3,685,061.00 $3,685,601.00 $ 0.00
Total Revenues $ 171,000.00 $ 148,500.00 $ 121,000.00 -$ 27,500.00
Total Expenditures $ 318,800.00 $ 398,800.00 $ 417,000.00 +$ 18,200.00
NOVEMBER 15, 2022, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 2 OF 3
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
E. Continued.
Adopted Mid-Year Budget End-of-Year Difference in
Budget Amendments Budget Mid-Year and EOY
Fund Summary 912712021 511712022 Amendments Amendments
Total Transfers-Out to General Fund $ 873,534.00 $ 738,207.00 $ 0.00 -$ 738,207.00
Total Loans to Other Funds $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 432,000.00 +$ 432,000.00
FYE Balance $2,663,727.00 $2,696,554.00 $3,389,061.00 +$ 692,507.00
Other Grants Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $ 260,000.00 $ 260,000.00 $ 260,000.00 $ 0.00
Total Revenues $ 300,000.00 $ 300,000.00 $ 0.00 -$ 300,000.00
Total Expenditures $ 430,000.00 $ 430,000.00 $ 60,000.00 -$ 370,000.00
FYE Balance $ 130,000.00 $ 130,000.00 $ 200,000.00 +$ 70,000.00
Industrial Development Grant Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Total Revenues $ 0.00 $1,456,482.00 $ 432,000.00 -$1,024,482.00
Total Expenditures $ 0.00 $1,456,482.00 $ 431,024.00 -$1,025,458.00
FYE Balance $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 976.00 +$ 976.00
Appropriates Grant Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
FYE Balance $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Law Enforcement Special Fund:
FY Beginning Balance $ 15,600.00 $ 15,600.00 $ 15,600.00 $ 0.00
Total Revenues $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 300.00 -$ 700.00
Total Expenditures $ 11,500.00 $ 11,500.00 $ 200.00 -$ 11,300.00
FYE Balance $ 5,100.00 $ 5,100.00 $ 15,700.00 +$ 10,600.00
VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
• Scheduled to meet with City Staff to review amendments required by the newly adopted Charter;
• City Staff is reviewing draft ordinances regarding food trucks and the use of fireworks; and the termination
of Veterans Park Agreement with American Legion;
• Revisions progressing to the Code Enforcement lien reduction matrix;
• Continuing to work on the title of opinion for Cattlemen's Square in FLAGLER PARK; and the Special
Exception Petition for a new cell tower.
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• Working on legislative priorities for 2023;
• The termination notice for the American Legion Veterans Park Use Agreement and revisions to Code
Enforcement will be presented soon.
IX. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Chandler thanked Staff for the amount of work completed this year,wished everyone a Happy
Thanksgiving.
Council Member Jarriel expressed his appreciation for all those who voted, is looking forward to another four
years, and congratulated Mr. David McAuley (in the audience) on his election to the Council.
Council Member Keefe also congratulated all on winning the election. He inquired of the research for an
alternate parade route and charging a fee for parades to cover the personnel hours as a special detail.
Administrator Ritter responded after looking at all possible options, the parade route would not change.
Council Member Clark was provided November 29th at 5:30 P.M. for the annual Tree Lighting. She inquired
as to the status of the landscape maintenance bids; the opening is November 21st, representatives from three
companies attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting.
X. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 7:01 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.
NOVEMBER 15, 2022, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 3 OF 3