2023-11-07 V. A. 10/17/2023 Draft MinutesExhibit 4
11 /07/2023
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
OCTOBER 17, 2023, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
° REVISED DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
* 915+
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on October
17, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast (SE) 3rd Avenue (AVE), Room
200, Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation was offered by Pastor Matt Bowen, Christ Fellowship
Church/Police Department Chaplain; followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Jarriel.
ATTENDANCE
City Clerk Lane Gamiotea called the roll. Members present to establish a quorum: Mayor Dowling R. Watford,
Jr., and Council Members Noel A. Chandler, Robert "Bob" J. Jarriel, and David R. McAuley. Vice Mayor
Monica M. Clark attended electronically via Zoom.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. New Business, item VII.A, Exhibit 3, was withdrawn by Administrator Gary Ritter.
B. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Chandler 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 and Public Works Director Allen recognized Ms. Kay Matchett, Public Works
Administrative Secretary, for her years of service. The presentation included an engraved pen and a
framed Certificate of Appreciation read into the record as follows: "Longevity Service Certificate
presented to Kay Matchett in Recognition of your 5 Years of Service, Hard Work, and Dedication
to the City, its citizens, and your fellow employees from October 1, 2018, through October 1, 2023."
B. Chief Hagan honored the memory of Jason Chapman by presenting his family members with a shadow
box displaying his issued Police badge, duty weapon, handcuffs, and patches. Officer Chapman,
employed since September 10, 2021, tragically lost his life in an off -duty accident on September 26,
2023.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Chandler to:
A. Dispense with the reading and approve the Minutes for September 14, 2023, September 25, 2023, and
October 3, 2023 [as presented]; and
B. Approve the September 2023 Warrant Register [in the amounts: General Fund, $491,208.74; Public
Facilities Improvement Fund, $46,897.42; Capital Improvement Projects Fund, $1,897.42; Industrial
Development Fund, $985,961.00 and Appropriations Grant Fund, $5,454.00, as presented]; and
C. Temporarily close a portion of Southwest 4th Street (ST) between 5th and 6th AVE from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M.
on October 31, 2023, for the Fall Festival as submitted by First Baptist Church [as presented in Exhibit
1].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL PLAT ADOPTION POSTPONED
FROM SEPTEMBER 14, 2023, AT 6:12 P.M.
A. Motion and second by Council Members Chandler and Jarriel to postpone to November 7, 2023, the
motion to approve or deny with or without contingencies, Final Plat Application No. 23-003-TRC/FP,
proposed development is a 16.2+/- acres commercial subdivision, to be titled: PARK ST COMMERCE
CENTER, located in the 1100 to 1200 blocks along the North (N) side of N Park ST/State Road 70 East
(E), just West of the eastern City Limits/Northeast (NE) 13th AVE. The newly platted subdivision will
consist of five lots for future commercial development, two master stormwater tracts, rights -of -way NE
31d ST and NE 13th AVE, and an abandonment of the unimproved and unutilized portion of NE 12th AVE,
formerly Mobley ST, submitted by Adam Ramsey, Registered Agent for Park ST Okeechobee, LLC;
property owner William R. Grigsby, Jr., Exhibit 2.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:13 P.M.
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VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Withdrawn from Agenda: Motion to read by title only, proposed Ordinance No. 1275, Land Development
Text Amendment Application No. 23-002-TA, revamping the Stormwater Management regulations within
Chapter 78 of the Code of Ordinances. Exhibit 3, Revised Exhibit 3, Second Revised Exhibit 3.
B. Consider moving an Alternate and appointing a new Member to three Citizen Boards [as presented in
Exhibit 4].
Motion and second by Council Members McAuley and Jarriel to move Mr. James Shaw from an Alternate
to Regular Member to the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Design Review Board, with
a term of October 18, 2023, through April 30, 2025 [replacing Mr. Rick Chartier].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
Motion and second by Council Members McAuley and Jarriel to appoint Mr. J. Dean Murray as an
Alternate Member to the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, and the Design Review Board, with a
term of October 18, 2023, through April 30, 2024 [replacing Mr. Shaw].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to approve Amendment No. 3 to the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement No. LPQ0007 for the Taylor Creek SE 4th ST
Stormwater Project, amending Section 2.d. of and adding Section 8.f. to Attachment 1; amending Section
4 in Attachment 2; and amending Attachment 3 Project Timeline and Budget Detail, and adding Task 2
to Attachment 3 [as presented in Exhibit 5].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
D. Motion and second by Council Members Chandler and McAuley to approve an Agreement [under
Awarded Contract RFQ No. ADM-01-23-07-21] in the amount of $19,210.00 to Kimley-Horn and
Associates for engineering services for the NE 41h ST drainage ditch, E of 6th AVE [as presented in Exhibit
6].
Motion Carried, Jarriel voted No.
E. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to [waive the formal bidding procedures
and] approve contracting with Newman's Power Systems to [purchase and] install a new generator at the
City Police Department in the amount of $67,654.00 [as presented in Exhibit 7].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
F. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Chandler to approve the Police Department's
purchase of five 2023 Dodge Chargers, at $38,000.00 each, from Woody Folsom Automotive Group of
Douglas, Georgia.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
G. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to approve the request made by Mr. Gregg
Maynard, representing the local Veterans organizations, to add Red Cross emblems to the helicopter in
Veterans' Memorial Park.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
Vill. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
• Work is progressing on ordinances to prohibit the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries, make
public parks smoke free, broaden the membership to certain Citizen Boards, and amend stormwater
regulations.
• Continuing to review options for on-line public notices.
• Addressing Code Enforcement issues related to fireworks and storm shutters.
• Working on density amendments to the Land Development Regulations.
• Memorandum of Understanding allowing Freedom Baptist Church to use the parking area at Primitive
Baptist Church completed.
IX. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
The business owner whose interest in purchasing property within the Commerce Center for a biomedical
waste facility was previously rejected by the Council, requested to address them to respond to concerns
and explain his process. Mayor Watford stated any citizen has the privilege of requesting to be on the
agenda and address the Council.
Will be making a presentation on the City at the Economic Council luncheon on November 1, 2023.
Add to your calendars to attend: Veterans' Day ceremony, November 11, 2023 [flyer with time and
location distributed at the meeting]; Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony, City Hall Park, November 28, 2023,
5:00 P.M.; and Lighted Christmas Parade, December 9, 2023, 6:00 P.M.
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X. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Chandler complimented Mayor Watford and Council Member McAuley on their presentations
to the Legislative Delegation on October 4, 2023.
Council Member Jarriel shared his positive experience with applying for a building permit in the City.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 7:01 P.M.
Submitted By:
Lane Gamiotea, CIVIC, 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.
REVISED DRAFT OCTOBER 17, 2023, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 3 OF 3