Loading...
2024-06-04 Draft Minutes • • •, aO CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA otz11 JUNE 4, 2024, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DRAFT MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on June 4. 2024, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue (AVE), Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida (FL). The invocation was offered by Council Member McAuley: followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Watford. II. ATTENDANCE City Clerk Lane Gamiotea called the roll. Members present to establish a quorum: Mayor Dowling R. Watford. Jr., Council Members Noel A. Chandler, Robert"Bob" Jarriel, and David R. McAuley. Vice Mayor Monica M. Clark was absent with consent. III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS A. There were no requests for modifications to the agenda. B. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley 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 and second by Council Members Chandler and Jarriel to: A. Dispense with the reading and approve the Minutes for May 21, 2024 [as presented in Exhibit 1]; B. Approve rescinding part of the action taken on May 21, 2024, Consent Item V.C., to dispose of a 2003 Chevrolet Pickup Truck; approve the disposal of a 2003 Ford F-150 Super Cab 4x4 Pickup Truck, and surplus both Trucks using Insight Auction [as presented in Exhibit 2]; and C. Approve 10 gear lockers located in the Public Safety Building as surplus property and donate them to Glades County. Motion Carried. V. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:02 P.M. A. Motion and second by Council Members McAuley and Jarriel to read by title only, proposed Ordinance No. 1275, adopting Land Development Regulations (LDR) Text Amendment Application No. 23-002-TA, revamping the Stormwater Management regulations within Chapter 78 of the Code of Ordinances [as presented in Exhibit 3]. Motion Carried. City Attorney Greg Hyden read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1275 as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FL; AMENDING PART II OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE CODE OF ORDINANCES, SUBPART B LDRS, WITHIN CHAPTER 78 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING ARTICLE IV STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AS SUBMITTED IN LDR TEXT AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 23-002-TA; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Motion and second by Council Members McAuley and Chandler, to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1275. Mayor Watford opened the floor for public comments, there were none. Roll Call Vote: Chandler—Yea, Clark—Absent, Jarriel—Yea, McAuley—Yea, Watford—Yea. Motion Carried. B. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Chandler 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 4]. Motion Carried. JUNE 4, 2024, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING. PAGE 1 OF 3 • • V. PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED B. Continued. City Attorney Hyden read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1289 as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FL, UPDATING THE FIVE-YEAR SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS MANDATED BY FL STATUTES SECTION 163.3177(3)(b); PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Motion and second by Council Members Chandler and Jarriel, to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1289. Mayor Watford opened the floor for public comments, there were none. Roll Call Vote: Chandler—Yea, Clark—Absent, Jarriel—Yea, McAuley—Yea, Watford—Yea. Motion Carried. MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:11 P.M. VI. NEW BUSNESS A. Mr. Anthony Longo of Jupiter, FL gave a presentation on the Warriors Choice Foundation, a proposed residential treatment center to be built in the Northwest(NW) area of the County, for Veterans and First Responders. Housing will be on premises, the length of treatments are based on the individuals' needs, roughly ranging from five days to six weeks. Firearms will not be allowed on the premises. It will be staffed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, including cameras and security. The Foundation is hoping to break ground in the third quarter of 2025, after acquiring property and completing the permitting process. The Council extended their support for the endeavor. B. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and McAuley to read by title only, proposed Ordinance No. 1290, adopting Abandonment of Right-of-Way (R-O-W) Petition No. 24-001-SC that will vacate a portion of NW 5th AVE between NW 9th Street (ST) and the Railroad, submitted by Jay and Stephanie Walpole [as presented in Exhibit 5]. Motion Carried. City Attorney Hyden read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1290 as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FL; VACATING, AND ABANDONING A PORTION OF NW 5TH AVE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS OSCEOLA ST) BETWEEN BLOCKS 46 AND 47, OKEECHOBEE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 5, PAGE 5, PUBLIC RECORDS OF OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FL,AS SUBMITTED IN ABANDONMENT OF RO- W PETITION NO. 24-001-SC; PROVIDING FOR RESERVING UNTO THE CITY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS A NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO RECORD THE ORDINANCE IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FL; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Chandler to approve the first reading, and set July 2, 2024, as the final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No. 1290. Roll Call Vote: Chandler— Yea, Clark—Absent, Jarriel—Yea, McAuley—Yea, Watford—Yea. Motion Carried. C. The Council deferred discussing Food Truck regulations and possible amendments [as presented in Exhibit 6] to the June 18. 2024. meeting due to Vice Mayor Clark's absence. which was then later deferred to July 2, 2024, during Council Comments. However, the floor was opened for any comments. Administrator Ritter read four options for the Council to consider. A copy of the document will be distributed for Council to review. The document has been added to Exhibit 6. Mr.Jose Cruz of Manny's Sunflowers and Roses Shop and Gift addressed Council regarding the benches on his property for customers to sit while waiting for their Food Truck order. It was his understanding that complaints have been made to Code Enforcement. There is no record of who placed the complaints then cited Florida Statute 162.21(3)(b) which states Code Enforcement complaints may not be investigated if they are anonymous. Mayor Watford clarified the complaints he originally received have been addressed and remedied. His concern is the permanence of Food Trucks on properties. Mr. Cruz pointed out the Taqueria Yanez Food Truck attends multiple events hosted on other properties and the La Granja Food Truck is not a permanent structure because it has its'tires and is not on blocks.There are other properties within the City Limits with Food Trucks that never move but are closed on the weekends. He asked how the number of consecutive days is calculated and whether closing for a certain number of days would satisfy that issue. He ended by adding, his flower shop and the Food Trucks add market competition to the area's other businesses, which is beneficial for both the town's businesses and citizens. JUNE 4. 2024, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 2 OF 3 • • VI. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED D. A presentation was given by Finance Director India Riedel to review high level proposed budget items for upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 and beyond. A copy of the PowerPoint was distributed at the meeting and has been incorporated into the official minute file, labeled as Exhibit 7. There were no objections to the project/purchases presented. However, the consensus of the Council was to spend as much money on road repairs as possible in FY 2024-25. Related to road repairs, Administrator Ritter stated the City Attorney is reviewing the Covenants for the Commerce Center.The City should have been collecting an assessment from the property owners to place into a fund for maintenance to that area's infrastructure.The Council agreed this should be enforced.The matter will be included in a future meeting for approval. VII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE • For the City Commerce Center: Working on the tax revenue sharing proposal, Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, and an amended Master Development Agreement was signed May 30, 2024. • Continuing to gather information regarding Business Impact Estimate Statements, which revises a new law pertaining to Ordinance adoptions as requested by Clerk Gamiotea. • Looking at alternative parking options for possible revisions to Food Truck regulations. • Researching a Zoning Opinion for the Glenwood Park multi-family development. • Gathering information to create a comprehensive ordinance amending the Code based on the new Charter. Once compiled, this information will be sent to Clerk Gamiotea and Administrator Ritter. • Working on changes to the FL Department of Transportation (FDOT) Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement to give the maintenance back to FDOT. • Provided a copy of proposed amendments to the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing regulations for Staffs review on May 1, 2024. VIII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE • Gave Council a"heads up"regarding an email he sent to Waste Management advising them of yard debris and tree trimmings being placed in the City's R-O-W and stormwater drainage areas. Citizens are having a problem with the 4-cubic feet yard debris carts since they have been accustomed to all debris being picked up via the clam shell. IX. COUNCIL COMMENTS • Council Member Chandler congratulated Mayor Watford on recently being honored as a recipient of the 2024 Home Rule Hero Award. • Council Members McAuley and Jarriel stated they would be absent from the June 18, 2024, meeting. In light of this information Mayor Watford suggested the Food Truck discussion be postponed until all Council Members are able to attend. X. ADJOURNMENT There being no further items of discussion, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 7:57 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. DRAFT JUNE 4,2024,CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, PAGE 3 OF 3