2023-03-21 Handwritten Minutes V
MARCH 23,2023,COUNCIL TOWN HALL MEETING
LANE GAMIOTEA HANDWRITTEN MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
cr-Watford called-the town Hall Meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on
Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at (Qaiio P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located_at55_Southeast
(SE).3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
A. The invocation was offered by t)011 kinlath
B. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by OPOLIVI�' 1w - .
II. ATTENDANCE:
PRCSENT ABSENT - - -
Mayor Watford �/j
Vice Mayor Clark
Council Member Chandler
Council Member Jarriel
Council Member McAuley
Staff present were:
City Administrator Gary Ritter City Clerk Lane Gamiotea
Police Chief Donald Hagan Exec.Assistant Jacqueline Boer
Public Works Director David Allen -Deputy-City-Clerk Heather Prince
It INTRODUCTION BY CITY ADMINISTRATOR
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Handwritten Minutes,3-21-2023,Town Hall Mtg;Page -/ of
IV. RECOGNITION CEREMONY
A. Promotions to Sergeant
Jessica Francis, hired May 2-2018;assigned to K9 Unit on February 1, 2019, promoted to Sergeant on April
8, 2022 46., j°-�Z L�ltiti � Lev' �, , L,tay ,
Cody Daigneault, hired August 16, 2019; promoted to Sergeant on June 24, 2022 (.t.L �.
Aurelio Almazan, hired as Dispatcher September 5, 2008; transferred to Officer/Detective on August 19, 2014;
promoted to Sergeant on January 20, 2017; transferred to Detective Sergeant July 22, 2022. •B. Promotions to Detective
Jack Boon, previously employed on December 9, 2005; transterred to Detective on October 3, 2014;
transferred to School Resource Officer May 2, 2018 through July 2018; retired May 31, 2019.Rehired April 4.
2022, assigned to Detective Unit.
C. New Hires
Jason Chapman, hired October 9, 20211 CU.t.utt,n ti_.�)1. ,Lt ,kfi -ia- ;E,tk;Q,tetttOtt -
-" Alexis Bieger, hired-March 4, 2022
Derek Nails, hired April 22,2022
Garrett Kelly, hired August 12, 2022) I Si- f ate; .irk- otiantf, -►00
Dalton Pitts, hired August 19, 2022
... Brandi Drapal, hired March 10,2023 Vtouis' / IMJIn cw.eA)
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IV. RECOGNITION CEREMONY CONTINUED—
D. Retirement Recognition
Det.-James Pickering, hired Marctv6;2006; transferred to the Drug [ask-Force on February 19, 2007;
transferred to the Detective Unit on January 14, 2013; retiring March 31,2023.
A Certificate of Retirement was read into the record as follows: "Whereas,_Mr. James_Walter_Pickering, began - -
his law enforcement career in November of 2004 when he was appointed to the Okeechobee Police Auxiliary.
_ _After.a_few years,_he-realized this was the career for him, and on March-6,2006, he was hired by Chief Davis
as a non-certified Officer and sponsored by the City Police Department to attend the Indian River Community
College Law-Enforcement-Academy.-On---October--27,--2006, he earned his Florida Department-of Law
Enforcement Certificate and was assigned to the Road Patrol; and Whereas, only four months later Officer
Pickering applied to fill theCity's vacancy on the-Narcotics Unit of the Joint Drug-Task Force. On FFe br a 19,
2007, his job title changed to Detective Pickering. He represented the City Police Department extremely well
during these six years. The highlights of this time include attending the Drug Enforcement Administration
Basic Course School; was designated as a Special Agent for the Immigration__and Customs Services as a• --- ---
member of the Blue Lighting Task Force. He, together with the members of the Narcotics Unit were honored
on Decembet6,-20.12,_with_a Unit Citation Award issued by Sheriff Paul May for their success with a cocaine
trafficking and wiretap prosecution dubbed "Operation Cocaine Cowboy." Then on January 14, 2013, he
II transferred from the Task Force to the Detective Unit of the Police Department;and Whereas,education and
training has been an important key to Detective Pickering's leadership role, obtaining over 150 certificates of
completion for attending seminars, conferences, training, and contmurng education courses. Furthermore,
since July of 2018, he served as one of the Department's Firearms Instructors, and then in March of 2022,,
began servin asan Instructor for the Department and for Indian River State College Police Academy,
instilling a dedicated work ethic in future_recruits; and Whereas during, his_tenure James_was elected by his
co-workers to represent their interests on the Police Officers' Pension Plan Board of Trustees from June 1,
2019.through his retirement date; and Whereas James has served under--the-guidance of three City Police
Chiefs, Dennis Davis, Robert Peterson, and Donald Hagan, II, all of which described him as an asset to the
Department because of his dedication to the people of this City.-Now,Therefore, this Certificate is presented
this 21st day of March, 2023, to recognize our gratitude for over 17 years of faithful service, upon his official
retirement, March 31, 2023:-James will always be known for his willingness to care for the well-being ofthe
citizens, but most especially for his unequivocal love of the Christmas season, and all things Santa Claus."
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E. Dispatchers
Jennifer Rosas.hired November 1.2021
Carmen Coreas,-hired August-2-7r2-024I ---
Paula Robertson,-hired August 2, 2021-
- 1 Raymond McMillan, hired February 25, 2022
jj Beth Gearhart, hired February 24, 2023
Cam-
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V. STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS w.
A. Overview of City Activities-City Administrator
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VI_ DISCUSSIONWITI I CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS—
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VII. ADJOURNMENT . '
. There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at r7,0T---P.M.
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