2023-03-16 Approved Minutes 94
a °mt.
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
°° $ PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP
MARCH 16, 2023
SUMMARY OF BOARD DISCUSSION
I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chairperson McCoy called the Workshop of the Planning Board for the City of Okeechobee
to order on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 6:02 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55
Southeast Third Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. ATTENDANCE Il
Roll was taken by 13oard Secretary Patty Burnette. Vice Chairperson Doug McCoy, Board
Members Phil Baughman, Carl Berlin, Jr., Karyne Brass, Rick Chartier, Mac Jonassaint and
Alternate Board Member Jim Shaw were present. Chairperson Dawn Hoover was absent without
consent and Alternate Board Member Jon Folbrecht was absent with consent.
III. ITEMS OF DISCUSSION
A. Mr. Ben Smith of Morris-Depew Associates, Inc. was present via Zoom as the City's
Planner and briefly reviewed the Planning Staff Report regarding the use and regulations
for Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicles (MFDVs). This is a term meant to encompass
several types of mobile food vendors including food trucks, mobile kitchens, canteen
trucks, ice cream trucks and food carts. In 2019, the City Council and the Planning Board
conducted a Joint Workshop on the issue of mobile food vendors and determined the
City's current Land Development Regulations (LDRs) effectively prohibited MFDVs
within the City Limits and did not pursue any changes. In 2020, Governor DeSantis
signed into law Senate Bill 474/House Bill 1171, which enacted Florida Statute 509.102.
This law preempts local governments from entirely prohibiting MFDVs within their
jurisdiction and prohibits local governments from requiring a separate license,
registration, permit, or fee, other than what is required through the Florida Department
of Business and Professional Regulation. It is necessary to amend the City's LDRs in
order to comply with State law. He reviewed the various regulatory options for the Board
to consider, as well as Ordinances from several other governmental organizations.
Discussion among the Board Members included usage of the City's rights-of-way, hours
of operation, parking on unimproved surfaces, which zoning districts to allow this use,
required parking, restroom facilities, and whether a special event permit should be
required.
Consensus from the Board Members was to have Planner Smith prepare a draft
ordinance to include definitions for the different classifications of MVDFs; identify specific
zoning districts such as Heavy Commercial and Industrial, where this use would be
permitted on private property and establish operational requirements in those districts;
allow for certain classes of MFDVs to operate in public rights-of-way with operational
standards; allow for special exception approval and temporary use approval to allow
MFDVs in other zoning districts; create supplemental use standards for MFDVs when
operating according to special exception approval; and create guidelines for allowance
of MFDVs when allowed through a temporary use.
IV. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• Invited everyone to attend the Town Hall Meeting on March 21, 2023, 6:00 P.M., that will
include a Police Department pinning ceremony and the State of the City Address.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chairperson McCoy adjourned the workshop meeting at 7:32 P.M.
Submitted by:
PcikJk. 61
Patty M. Burnette, Secretary
Please take notice and be advised that when a person decides to appeal any decision made by the Planning Board with respect to any
matter considered at this proceeding, he/she 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. General Services'media are for the sole purpose of backup for official
records.
March 16, 2023, Planning Board Workshop Page 1 of 1