2023-10-03 Approved Minutes 35q
���ty'� CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Q•°_` yam^ OCTOBER 3, 2023, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
1,9 • MEETING MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on October
10, 2023, 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 Pastor Joe Bishop, Chaplain, Okeechobee County
Sheriff's Office; followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Chandler. A moment of silence
was held in memory of City Police Officer Jason Chapman who lost his life in an off-duty motor vehicle
accident.
II. ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Lane Gamiotea called the roll. Members present to establish a quorum: Mayor Dowling R. Watford,
Jr., Vice Mayor Monica M. Clark, and Council Members Noel A. Chandler, Robert"Bob" J. Jarriel, and David
R. McAuley.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. New Business, item V.B, was amended to read award a Bid rather than Contract.
B. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to approve the agenda as amended.
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 October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Proclamation was
presented to Ms. Monica Branch, Ms. Sally Savage, and Ms. Tina Taylor, representing Martha's House,
and read into the record as follows: "Whereas, domestic violence is a crime threatening the safety and
lives of women, men, teenagers, and children, directly or through the traumatic experience of living
with it at home; and Whereas, victims of domestic violence are found in every race, culture, and
socioeconomic strata and the cost to our community in lost time at work, increased emergency
services, missed days of school, increased medical bills, and other economic and social costs makes
domestic violence a community health issue; and Whereas, the City of Okeechobee is taking a
proactive stance to counter domestic violence through partnerships between Martha's House,
Okeechobee's only certified domestic violence center, law enforcement, school programs, and more;
and Whereas, in the past year, Martha's House has provided emergency services to more than 790
residents, including over 4,650 bed nights in shelter, 800 hotline calls, 670 safety plans, 9,400 meals
served, and $17,000.00 in direct financial assistance to local victims; and Whereas, the President of
the United States and Congress as well as other Federal agencies have expressed a commitment to
eliminating domestic violence both nationally and internationally. 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 October 2023 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Okeechobee in
recognition of the important work done by Domestic Violence Programs and victims' service
providers.I urge all citizens to actively participate in the scheduled activities and programs sponsored
by Martha's House of Okeechobee and other community organizations to work toward the elimination
of personal and institutional violence against women and girls."
B. Mayor Watford proclaimed the week of October 2 through 8, 2023, as Florida Climate Week. The
Proclamation, which will be mailed to the VoLo Foundation, reads as follows: "Whereas, the Climate
Change 2023: Synthesis Report, listed a current temperature rise of 1.1 degrees Celsius leading to
constant unnatural weather events bringing disarray to the planet and its inhabitants, and it reports
an increase in weather-related disasters with every rise in temperature level; and Whereas, Florida
and its 825 miles of shoreline and low elevation points of 100-feet above sea level make the State
highly susceptible to sea-level rise and other natural disasters related to climate change, and the high
level of carbon dioxide; and pollution also threatens to harm Florida's coral reefs and a variety of sea
organisms; and Whereas, VoLo Foundation, along with other non-profit organizations, local, state,
and federal partners, elected leaders, news medica, volunteer and professional associations, is
committed to educating Florida citizens and visitors about the climate crisis so they may take action
to bring about positive, influential change to protect their families, business, and themselves; and
Whereas, the citizens of Florida are encouraged to become more aware of our changing climate and
participate in the various programs during Florida Climate Week that will present and discuss
solutions by visiting Florida Climate Week.com. 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 the
week of October 2 through 8, 2023, as FloridaClimateWeek in the City of Okeechobee."
OCTOBER 3, 2023, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 1 OF 2
356
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion by Vice Mayor Clark,second by Council Member Chandler to approve an Agreement[No. P4196B
under Awarded Contract RFQ No. ADM-01-32-07-21] in the amount of$95,424.00 to Craig A. Smith and
Associates for the construction oversight and certification of the dry retention areas and remaining lake
segment of the Commerce Center as recently permitted by the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD) under the new Permit No 47-108440-P [as presented in Exhibit 1].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Motion and second by Council Members Chandler and McAuley to award a Bid to B and B Site
Development, Inc., based on the recommendation of Craig A. Smith and Associates, to construct
additional dry retention areas and lake segment at the Commerce Center in the amount of$465,170.97
[as presented in Exhibit 2, related to SFWMD Permit No. 47-108440-P].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, second by Vice Mayor Clark to approve [under RFQ No. ADM-01-00-
10-19] the Legal Services Agreement with Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris and Fumero, P.A. in the
amount of$9,900.00 per month or$118,800.00 annually, as outlined in the Scope of Work[as presented
in Exhibit 3, effective October 1, 2023, and replaces the January 1, 2020, Contract and Amendment No.
1, effective May 1, 2020].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
• Nothing new since September 25, 2023, update.
VII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• The Legislative Delegation is meeting at the County Historic Courthouse/Commission Chambers on
October 4, 2023, at 3:30 P.M. Mayor Watford will be presenting the City's requests. Council Member
McAuley will be presenting on behalf of the Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities.
• As requested, a form is now available for metal detecting on City property.
• Funeral Service for Officer Jason Chapman is 11:00 A.M., October 4, 2023, at Oakview Church.
VIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Chandler stated he is glad to be back from his trip.
Council Member Jarriel is pleased to see what the City has accomplished.
Vice Mayor Clark expressed appreciation for the prayers and words of encouragement for her daughter.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:39 P.M.
Submitted By:
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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.
OCTOBER 3,2023, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 2 OF 2