2023-02-07 VII. B. Exhibit 4 Exhibit 4
02/07/2023
ORDINANCE NO. 1270
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA RELATING TO THE REGULATION
OF FIREWORKS, AMENDING PART II THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AT CHAPTER
14 BUSINESSES BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTION 14-
173 FIREWORKS; AMENDING AT CHAPTER 30,
ENVIRONMENT, SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTION 30-43
PUBLIC NUISANCES; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; REPEALING ALL
ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, in 2020, the State of Florida enacted Florida Statutes (F.S.) Section
791.08 relating to the discharge of fireworks; and
WHEREAS, a number of local governments, including the City of Okeechobee
("City"), are updating their fireworks related ordinances in response the
enactment of F.S. Section 791.08; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that this Ordinance promotes the public health,
safety and welfare of its citizens and inhabitants of the City, pursuant to Article
VIII, Section 1(g), Florida Constitution.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained before the City Council of the City of
Okeechobee, Florida; presented at a duly advertised public meeting; and
passed by majority vote of the City Council; and properly executed by the
Mayor or designee, as Chief Presiding Officer for the City; that:
SECTION 1: RECITALS.
The foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are ratified and confirmed as being true
and correct and are made a specific part of this Ordinance.
SECTION 2: AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 14 BUSINESSES.
That Section 14-173 Fireworks of Part II of the City Code of Ordinances within
Chapter 14 Businesses, Article IV Peddlers and Solicitors, Division 3
Miscellaneous Offenses is hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) It shall be unlawful to sell or offer or expose for sale any firecrackers,
as defined in F.S. §791.01, or to shoot off, explode or use any
firecrackers, toy pistols, or other explosives fireworks or other similar
devices as defined in F.S. Section 791.01.
(b) The sea use of fireworks or other similar devices are not permitted
in the City other than on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and
Independence Day. in connection with a community wide celebration
been obtained fror the-cit ncil aand-arrangements made f -t,he
been provided for. However, this Section shall not prohibit public
outdoor fireworks displays for which any applicable permit has been
obtained from the City and Okeechobee County Fire and Rescue if and
where all financial bond requirements or liability insurance established
by the City, if any, have been satisfied, and other prescribed safety
requirements have been met.
Ordinance No. 1270, Page 1 of 3
If applicable,language to be added is underlined.
If applicable,language to be deleted is s#wsic-through.
(c) The use of private outdoor fireworks may occur on:
New Years' Eve between 1:00 P.M. to Midnight, EST; and
New Years' Day between 12:01 A.M. to 1:00 A.M., and between
11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M., EST.
Independence Days between 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M., EST
(d) Provisions of this article may be enforced by the City as a code violation
or may be enforced by the Police Department as an offense, pursuant
to F.S. Section 162.22 or when a public safety or nuisance is caused. A
problem may exist when fireworks are set off 25-feet or less of an
adjoining single-family residence. A problem may occur when fireworks
are being set off near vegetations or forested areas that could potentially
cause an undue fire hazard.
SECTION 3: AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 30 ENVIRONMENT.
That paragraph (a) in Section 30-43 Public Nuisances of Part II of the City
Code of Ordinances within Chapter 30 Environment, Article II Nuisances, is
hereby amended to read as follows:
(a) "Public nuisance" as defined in this section, means the unauthorized
shooting of fireworks, existence of excessive accumulation of litter or
untended vegetation, garbage, weeds, or other dead or living plant life;
or places holding stagnant water, and all other objectionable, unsightly
or unsanitary matter upon any lot, track of land within the city, whether
uncovered or under shelter, to the extent and in the manner that such
lot or parcel of land is, or may reasonably become infested or inhabited
by rodents, vermin or wild animals, or may furnish a breeding place for
mosquitoes, or threatens or endangers the public health, safety or
welfare, including such condition causing or tending to cause disease,
or by reason of such a condition, tends to impair the economic welfare
of adjacent property; including abandoned or junk property as defined
by this article; blighted structures and dangerous structures as defined
in this article; unsightly, derelict or unsafe building or structure which
may constitute a hazard to safety, health, welfare or sense of public
aesthetics by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation,
obsolescence, or abandonment.
SECTION 4: SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, clause, or provision of this Ordinance is declared
invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder
shall not be affected by such invalidity.
SECTION 5: CONFLICT.
All sections or parts of sections of the City of Okeechobee Code of
Ordinances in conflict herewith are intended to be repealed to the extent of
such conflict.
SECTION 6: INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Okeechobee, and it is
hereby ordained that the provisions of this Ordinance shall become and made
a part of the City of Okeechobee Code of Ordinances, that the sections of
this Ordinance may be renumbered or re-lettered to accomplish such
intentions; and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "Section" or other
appropriate word.
SECTION 7: EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall be effective upon final adoption on second reading.
Ordinance No. 1270, Page 2 of 3
If applicable,language to be added is underlined.
If applicable,language to be deleted is stwsl--threugh.
INTRODUCED for FIRST READING and set for Final Public Hearing on this 7th day
of February 2022.
Dowling R. Watford Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk
(SEAL)
SECOND READING AND FINAL ADOPTION held this 7th day of March 2023.
As required by City Charter Section C-4.1.C, ordinances shall be adopted by roll
call on final reading and recorded, the vote was as follows:
Yes No Abstained Absent
Council Member Chandler:
Council Member/Vice Mayor Clark:
Council Member Jarriel:
Council Member McAuley:
Mayor Watford:
Dowling R Watford Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk
(SEAL)
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
John J. Fumero, Esq.
City Attorney
Ordinance No. 1270, Page 3 of 3
If applicable,language to be added is underlined.
If applicable,language to be deleted is struck through.