2024-03-19 Approved Minutes385
`\�y'OFO/fFF.y CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
�= m MARCH 19, 2024, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Q MEETING MINUTES
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on March
19, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue (AVE), Room 200,
Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation was offered by Pastor Doug Ryan of Treasure Island Baptist Church;
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member McAuley.
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" Jarriel, and David R.
McAuley.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. There were no modifications stated at this time. However, the revised Minutes for March 5, 2024, were
distributed via email earlier today; and the Plat Page numbers were corrected from 7 through 10 to 10
through 14 on Item V. B.
B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, second by Vice Mayor Clark, to adopt the revised agenda as
published.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for issues not on the agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Vice Mayor Clark, second by Council Member McAuley to:
A. Dispense with the reading and approve the revised Minutes for Marcie 5, 2024, [added to Exhibit 11; and,
B. Approve the February 2024 Warrant Register in the amounts: General Fund, $490,358.66; Public Facility
Improvement Fund, $171,320.58; Capital Improvement Projects Fund, $25,046.59; Industrial
Development Fund, $5,563.75; and Appropriations Grant Fund, $675.00 [as presented in Exhibit 2].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley, to read by title only, proposed Ordinance
No. 1288, removing the longevity service awards from Section 2-97 of the Code of Ordinances by
rescinding a portion of Ordinance No. 568 [as presented in Exhibit 31.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
City Attorney John Fumero read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1288 as follows: "AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; RESCINDING ORDINANCE NO. 568
ADDING LONGEVITY SERVICE AWARDS TO CITY EMPLOYEES; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT;
PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE."
Motion and second by Council Members McAuley and Chandler, to approve the first reading, and set
April 16, 2024, as a final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No. 1288.
Roll Call Vote: Chandler — Yea, Clark — Yea, Jarriel — Yea, McAuley — Yea, Watford — Yea.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, second by Vice Mayor Clark, to accept the offer from Landmark
Precast, LLC, to purchase Lots 17, 17A, and 17B, CITY OF OKEECHOBEE COMMERCE CENTER, Plat
Book 7, Pages 10 through 14 [corrected from 7 through 10], Okeechobee County public records, located
in the 1000 block along NE 12th Street, in the amount of $420,000.00.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. It was the consensus of the Council that the City have representation in the annual Speckled Perch
Parade, Labor Day Parade, and the Okeechobee Main Street Christmas Festival Lighted Parade.
Additionally, to have representation at the annual Cowtown Rodeo with a City banner on the vehicle the
representatives are riding on.
MARCH 19, 2024, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 1 OF 2
VI. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
• Still working on the various documents to be amended related to Personnel changes with the City Clerk.
• Continuing to work on amending the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate procedures and updating the
fine schedule to streamline the process with a flat administrative fee.
• Lightsey's Right -of -Way Use Agreement is still in process.
• Rewriting the Commerce Center's Covenants and Deed Restrictions, with the possibility of creating a
Homeowners' Association.
• Creating a template to streamline the process for the City's land sales in the Commerce Center.
VII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• Advised he will be out until March 29, 2024, but that the Staff is prepared and the City is in good hands.
• The repaving project for Southwest 5th AVE will begin the evening of March 31 st.
VIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS
• Council Member Chandler thanked Administrator Ritter and staff for their work on the Commerce Center,
stated the sidewalk project was looking great, and that he was glad to be here.
Council Member Jarriel agreed that the sidewalks were looking good, along with businesses making
aesthetic improvements.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:42 P.M.
Submitted By:
lane G miotea, CMC, ity Clerk
L
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.
MARCH 19, 2024, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 2 OF 2