2024-04-16 Draft Meeting Minutes•
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OF -OK
E ti CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
=W m APRIL 16, 2024, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on April 16,
2024, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 31d Avenue (AVE), Room 200,
Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation was offered by Mayor Watford; followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
led by Vice Mayor Clark.
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 and Robert "Bob" Jarriel. Council
Member David R. McAuley entered the Chambers at 6:06 P.M.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. There were no modifications stated at this time. However, the revised Minutes for April 2, 2024, correcting
a typographical error were distributed via email on April 10, 2024, and added to Exhibit 1.
B. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Chandler to adopt the agenda as published.
Motion Carried.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation for issues not on the agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Council Member Chandler, second by Vice Mayor Clark to:
A. Dispense with the reading and approve the revised Minutes for April 2, 2024 [as added to Exhibit 1]; and
B. Approve the February 2024 Warrant Register [in the amounts: General Fund, $488,603.14; Public
Facilities Improvement Fund, $161,615.72; Capital Improvement Projects Fund, $11,169.68; Industrial
Development Fund, $562.50; and Other Grant Capital Fund, $4,685.24 as presented in Exhibit 2].
Motion Carried.
V. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE ADOPTION AT 6:02 P.M.
A. Motion by Council Member Jarriel, second by Vice Mayor Clark 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 3].
Motion Carried.
City Attorney Greg Hyden 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 by Vice Mayor Clark, second by Council Member Jarriel, to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1288.
Mayor Watford opened the floor for public comments, there were none.
Roll Call Vote: Chandler — Yea, Clark — Yea, Jarriel — Yea, McAuley — Absent, Watford — Yea.
Motion Carried.
MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:04 P.M.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to approve the 2023 Audited Financials
prepared by Carr, Riggs, & Ingram LLC, reviewed and presented by Lindsey Aviles, CPA Partner [as
presented in Exhibit 4].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
B. Motion by Council Member Chandler, second by Vice Mayor Clark, to read by title only, proposed
Ordinance No. 1289, adopting Application No. 24 -001 -CPA, updating the Five -Year Schedule of Capital
Improvements to the Comprehensive Plan [as presented in Exhibit 5].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
DRAFT APRIL 16, 2024, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 1 OF 2
VI. NEW BUSNESS CONTINUED
B. City Attorney Hyden read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1289 as follows: "AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, UPDATING THE FIVE-YEAR SCHEDULE
OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE. CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS MANDATED BY
FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 163.3177(3)(b); PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to approve the first reading, and set May
21, 2024, as the final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No. 1289.
Roll Call Vote: Chandler — Yea, Clark — Yea, Jarriel — Yea, McAuley — Yea, Watford — Yea.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. Motion and second by Council Members Chandler and Jarriel to approve the amendments to the
Personnel Policies and Procedures to include the Longevity Service Award Policy as amended by the
Council on February 20, 2024 [as presented in second revised Exhibit 6].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
D. Administrator Ritter reviewed the highlights of the status update [as presented in Exhibit 7] on Lake
Okeechobee Projects, by MacVicar Consulting, Inc., for the first quarter of 2024.
VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
• Working on the Commerce Center purchase and sale template.
• The Commerce Center Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions are being reviewed for amendments.
• The Lightsey's Right -of -Way Use Agreement was sent to the City on April 15th.
• Working on the re -design for Glenwood Park (Mitch Stephens' project) with the City Staff.
• Continuing to research the Opinion on public use of showers located within the Public Safety Building.
• Finalizing the real estate closing documents for Biomedical Waste Facility within the Commerce Center.
• Working with Gray Crow on the revisions to the Special Magistrate proceedings.
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• Advised the paving project on Southwest (SW) 5th AVE is almost complete.
IX. COUNCIL COMMENTS
• Council Member Chandler reminded everyone the Ethics class hosted by the Treasure Coast Regional
League of Cities is on Friday, April 19, 2024, and of the City's vacancies on the Okeechobee Utility
Authority Board.
• Vice Mayor Clark inquired about the status of the drainage project along SW 7th AVE, Administrator Ritter
responded there is more work to do before the project is complete. She also asked when the sidewalk
repairs were to be completed for this year; and was advised they were complete, with only a few touchups
left to be done.
• Mayor Watford officially introduced Ms. Makaya Whitehead as the new Executive Director for the
Okeechobee Economic Council.
X. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:48 P.M.
Submitted By:
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.
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