2024-04-16 Handwritten MinutesAPRIL 16, 2024, COUNCIL REGULAR MEET( G
HANDWRITTEN MINUTES BY 6 E i
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the re ular m eting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on
Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at - P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd
Avenue (AVE), Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
The invocation was offered by
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by n.L'
ATTENDANCE taken by City
Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum:
City Attorney J��
PRESENT
ABSENT (w/ or w/o consent?)
Mayor Watford
— ,
Deputy City Clerk Katie Rogers
Vice Mayor Clark
✓
—
Council Member Chandler
Council Member Jarriel
Council Member McAuley
_
L a*f dj C
Staff present were: G vt d�
City Attorney J��
City Clerk Lane Gamiotea
City Administrator Gary Ritter
Exec. Assistant Jacqueline Boer
Police Chief Donald Hagan
Deputy City Clerk Katie Rogers
Finance Director India Riedel
HR Generalist Heather Prince
General Services Patty Burnette
Public Works Maintenance Foreman Willie Hall
City Planner Ben Smith attending electronically via Zoom
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Requests for any modifications to the agenda by Mayor Watford and will be added to revised 4/2/2024
Minutes correcting a typo was distributed via email on 4/10/2024 and will be added to the original version
published with the Agenda, Exhibit 1.
B. Motion and s ncil Members and o a op
the agenda s published ended. _ _ _ _ _ _-__�—___._ _ _ __
VOTE: C d r , Clarkll , Jarriel MCAUIey�^ ;Watford ��..
Motio arried/i
ed.
C. There were agenda item forms or comment cards submitted for public participation for any
issues not on the agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA --- - to:
Motion and second by Council Members and
A. Dispense with the reading and approve the revised Minutes for April 2, 2024 [as added to Exhibit 11.
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].
VOTE: Cha dler , Clark, Jarriel , McAuley " )( L`�Vatford.
Motio .Carne (Failed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page of
V. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ATP.M.
A. Motion and second by Council Members — �, and jW 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].
VOTE:narried/
_, Clark , JarrielU—, McAuleyj�2 , vvatford
Motion ailed.
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 ��'C and to adopt
proposed Ordinance No. 1288.
ROLL CALL VOTE:
Chandler F i�i�l , McAuley �',
Clark Watford
Jarriel
Motion::Carried/Failed.
MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT o- 4 P.M
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page ." of
A. NEW BUSINESS y � pp
A. Motion and second b Council Members - and to approve
the 2023 Audited Financials prepared by Carr, iggs, & Ingram LLC, reviewed and presentedby Lindsey Aviles,
CPA Partner [as presented in Exhibit 41.
It ktp�-cna2� � , y�f �6', Cl F45 -�c c�M lc,.b� C��
r
-
T�a-S
VOTE: Ch gde ,Clarke, Jarriel , McAuley \i Watford_.
Motion:
:rr�-eFailed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page - of
�) 4', -)-n
�vm� cro
/,NOT ��rvNo -V^NO L8
" ---"q �,) 1) 2,-QL
s*01 � �ia�d -���d . Ll-�1�
- sl� I Q .1 q S\4 tl-) �C4
-TVA
VI.
B.
M
NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
Motion and second by Council Members CIklNa!L and �k `�,�L 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 51.
VOTE: Chartdler ' 'r ,McAuley , Watford
Clark ��'C, Jarriel
Motion. Cam Failed.
City Attorney-- G ry a 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 - and0� to approve the
first reading, and set May 21, 2024, as the final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No',, 1289.
�„ -A- N „ n . r --,N „_0,0 A n._Ar, PA,, '&, ®fn.A
lit jN,C7i.
0
ROLL CALL VOTE:
Chandle , McAu�le-V
Clark , Watford `I .
Jarriel -
Motion: Carried/Failed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page
-� of
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED �i1 ^ ti ,�
C. Motion and second by Council Members w K�('L/� and J(j'ti� 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 2nd revised Exhibit 61.
The City encourages career service by offering monetary longevity service awards to all
full-time employees who have served the City for at least ten continuous years of
employment. Effective October 1, 2023, longevity
service awards, which are based on the length of service, shall be awarded as follows:
1. Ten Years: Employees who complete ten years of service shall receive an award equal to
one percent of their current annual salary.
2. Fifteen Years: Employees who complete fifteen years of service shall receive an award
equal to two percent of their annual salary.
3. Twenty Years: Employees who complete twenty years of service shall receive an award
equal to three percent of their current annual salary.
4. Twenty -Five Years: Employees who complete twenty-five years of service shall receive an
award equal to four percent of their current annual salary.
5. Thirty Years: Employees who complete thirty years of service shall receive an award equal
to five percent of their current annual salary.
6. Thirty -Five Years: Employees who complete thirty-five years of service shall receive an
award equal to six percent of their current annual salary.
7. Forty Years: Employees who complete forty years of service shall receive an award equal
to seven percent of their current annual salary.
8. The term "full-time employee" shall include the following elected official: *City Clerk.
9. The term "continuous service" shall include only years of actual full-time service in the
employment of the City without interruption.
- — -� *elected until January 3, 2027, will then be appointed by the Mayor and City Council.
2
7
0
Longevity service awards shall also be awarded to elected officials who have served for at
least ten years.
These awards, which are based on length of service, shall be awarded as follows:
Ten Years: Elected officials who complete ten years of service shall receive an award of
$250.00.
Fifteen Years: Elected officials who complete fifteen years of service shall receive an
award of $500.00.
Twenty Years: Elected officials who completed twenty years of service shall receive an
award of $750.00.
Twenty -Five Years: Elected officials who complete twenty-five years of service shall
receive an award of $1000.00.
Thirty Years: Elected officials who complete thirty years of service shall receive an award
of $1,250.00.
Thirty -Five Years: Elected officials who complete thirty-five years of service shall receive
an award of $1,500.00.
Forty Years: Elected officials who complete forty years of service shall receive an award of
$1,750.00.
The term "elected official', for this purpose only, includes the following elected officials:
City Council Members.
The term "years of service", for this purpose only, includes total years of service, even if
not continuous.
- ---- - c, -fir cicrC�2 _ —
���ti -
VOTE: Cnardedr
, Clark, jarrielN McAuley WatfordMotion:ailed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page of
Vi. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
D. Status update on Lake Okeechobee Projects from MacVicar Consulting, Inc., first quarter of 2024, by Gary
Ritter.
-CCS_aa -prvTzi'v40
�a
1q-- --�= cry_ Hx
-�
Iry
KLIW
oo
_= --- -
-
4--J-L
c --7-
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page of
VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
Xf
COUNCIL COMMENTS — -
(—(_
C �J� �LCL� �IQIt- CL Sbt�u`Sk -V— CSV— d± Im
® S c��- F
v� 0--VQ—L0 'p I-cx Ley 7---
aL
X. MAYOR WATFORD ADJOURNED THE MEETING AT "(' P.M.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page_ of
APRIL 16, 2024, CO NCIL REGULAR M TING
HANDWRITTEN MINUTES BY L�IlUn V\
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on
Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at (.P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd
Avenue (AVE), Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida.
The invocation was offered by� U 6 C-6
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by( (�W
ATTENDANCE taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum:
PRESENT ABSENT (w/ or w/o consent?)
Mayor Watford
Vice Mayor Clark
Council Member Chandler
Council Member Jarriel
Council Member McAuley b et
Staff present were:
City Attorney John Fumero
City Clerk Lane Gamiotea
City Administrator Gary Ritter
Exec. Assistant Jacqueline Boer
Police Chief Donald Hagan
Deputy City Clerk Katie Rogers
Finance Director India Riedel
HR Generalist Heather Prince
General Services Patty Burnette
Public Works Maintenance Foreman Willie Hall
City Planner Ben Smith attending electronically via Zoom
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. Requests for any modifications to the agenda by Mayor Watford and will be added to revised 4/2/2024
Minutes correcting a typo was distributed via email on 4/10/2024 and will be added to the original version
published with the Agenda, Exhibit 1.
B. Motion and seco y Council Members A6C'(1tA and to adopt
the agenda a pubis d/amended.
VOTE: �arriie
r _, Clark_, Jarriel , McAuley, Watford.
Motion: Failed. —T T
C. There were agenda item forms or comment cards submitted for public participation for any
issues not on the agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion and second by Council Members I and �� Q.l�� to:
A. Dispense with the reading and approve the revised Minutes for April 2, 2024 [as added to Exhibit 1].
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].
VOTE: C n r , Clark `' , Jarriel_, McAuley, Watford_.
Motion: Carrie /Failed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page of
V. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT - 0Z P.M.
A. Motion and second by Council Members and C\001 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].
VOTE: C , �, Clark_, Jarriel , McAuley G )Wkwatford
. C .
Motio a rie Failed.
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 Cla—r--k; and to adopt
V1roposed Ordinance No. 1288.
0—vt�_j C�,'
ROLL CALL VOTE:
�n
Chandler, McAuley ,
Clark V Watford��.
Jarriel ,
Motio . arrie ;Failed.
MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6 - b y P.M
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page Z of
JVI. NEW BUSINESS COC( -t% A. Motion and second by Council Members and 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].
S
e�tid
QV0(h%,. rPP Z.dt (.Q L o L
V .
I \.2�� 7 e S�'+`� o ►� C) , Z N,�,o l � i r�clPt6c�.� } " �L, b' vet i ( f
i n t o vie.. Cicv. a 3, 3 6 5 6't r
1 (i V STrC �I 04\,d 446L, Z-0 &,A �j' t Z' Z LF t i S 2 -)
��rr_ktfc.5�
ox corn,tZ S-�t-v�1�n - Z. Z w� I I V12-�" Gly-s-
�i=tr1 gyp,
x,35 aCkevv
CIO,- p 1 6 t � Cosh �e� ry b s encs
75. 'f of i tt� RevsS �n Zoz 3 ctrl ..� r1Q.�- S` �-(066 go
C � p►'bv� vu� i .. o
VOTE: Chandler , Clark_, Jarriel_, McAuley_, Watford.
Motion: Carried/Failed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page �J of
C
�10 l CCUF Cly
a-+-c- rJOL �s
W 0U I JtA�"
Kuq LA- -L);�-
-! ')f 7
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
B. Motion and second by Council Members�b(0&,rand 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].
VOTE: Chandler, Clark, Jarriel�, McAuley, Watford.
Motion: Carried/Faileb.
City Attorney %ekitherecord 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 �42?zt and ✓yGt/IL (.4 to approve the
first reading, and set May 21, 2024, as the final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No. 1289.
E>� C Gdo Wilk_ Vv r j
`► V� CL&Z, Ci Q c�s UCi c>l cAi5 Vovr'th $'tV_.S
"4 &1 v n
Z _ �:) rot� v; r,, --A -a
4v �l a-L-� 6 be- 5L G+'-` cx k .
vvv
JCkr '�)) tis ° or
0 LA
0
ROLL CALL VOTE J
Chandler , McAul y ,
Clark `� , Watford
Jarrie,
Motion: arried�Failed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page t) of
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
C. Motion and second by Council Members UvA and �(,��� 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 2nd revised Exhibit 6].
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The City encourages career service by offering monetary longevity service awards to all
full-time employees who have served the City for at least ten continuous years of
employment. Effective October 1, 2023, longevity
service awards, which are based on the length of service, shall be awarded as follows:
Ten Years: Employees who complete ten years of service shall receive an award equal to
one percent of their current annual salary.
Fifteen Years: Employees who complete fifteen years of service shall receive an award
equal to two percent of their annual salary.
Twenty Years: Employees who complete twenty years of service shall receive an award
equal to three percent of their current annual salary.
Twenty -Five Years: Employees who complete twenty-five years of service shall receive an
award equal to four percent of their current annual salary.
Thirty Years: Employees who complete thirty years of service shall receive an award equal
to five percent of their current annual salary.
Thirty -Five Years: Employees who complete thirty-five years of service shall receive an
award equal to six percent of their current annual salary.
Forty Years: Employees who complete forty years of service shall receive an award equal
to seven percent of their current annual salary.
The term "full-time employee" shall include the following elected official: *City Clerk.
The term "continuous service" shall include only years of actual full-time service in the
employment of the City without interruption.
*elected until January 3, 2027, will then be appointed by the Mayor and City Council.
Longevity service awards shall also be awarded to elected officials who have served for at
least ten years.
These awards, which are based on length of service, shall be awarded as follows:
Ten Years: Elected officials who complete ten years of service shall receive an award of
$250.00.
Fifteen Years: Elected officials who complete fifteen years of service shall receive an
award of $500.00.
Twenty Years: Elected officials who completed twenty years of service shall receive an
award of $750.00.
Twenty -Five Years: Elected officials who complete twenty-five years of service shall
receive an award of $1000.00.
Thirty Years: Elected officials who complete thirty years of service shall receive an award
of $1,250.00.
Thirty -Five Years: Elected officials who complete thirty-five years of service shall receive
an award of $1,500.00.
Forty Years: Elected officials who complete forty years of service shall receive an award of
$1,750.00.
The term "elected official', for this purpose only, includes the following elected officials:
City Council Members.
The term "years of service", for this purpose only, includes total years of service, even if
not continuous.
�v
�P rncrned-o�-y vlow & 10 Y
VOTE: Ch tiler �_, Clark \ , Jarriel�_, McAuley ` , Watford l
Motion arried/Failed.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page \ of `
VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
D. Status update on Lake Okeechobee Projects from MacVicar Consulting, Inc., first quarter of 2024, by Gary
Ritter.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page of
VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
pow
akv
n 0 �- a./( f- o F'q 5elc'- ! i --
IX. COUNCIL COMMENTS �r ��
(,, ,ry ( — �j `i d�.�, at1�l
r-', 1--� pecri&
A4 t
X. MAYOR WATFORD ADJOURNED THE MEETING AT CD �1 P.M.
Handwritten Minutes, 4/16/2024, CC Reg Mtg, Page of _�