2024-09-11 Ex. 3, Item V. A. • •
Exhibit 3
09/11/2024 CC
a1..F. .. CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
`.: T% AUGUST 20, 2024, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
14 ` �;` AND SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25
-41''=1,:oi DRAFT MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on August
20, 2024, at 5:06 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast(SE) 3rd Avenue(AVE), Room
200, Okeechobee, Florida (FL). The invocation was offered by Pastor Don Hanna of the First Methodist
Church; followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Jarriel.
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, Council Members Noel A. Chandler, Robert "Bob" Jarriel, and David R.
McAuley.
III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
A. There were no requests for modifications to the agenda.
B. Council Member Jarriel made a motion, seconded by Council Member Chandler, to adopt the agenda as
published.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
C. There were no comment cards submitted for public participation on issues not on the agenda.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Jarriel made a motion, seconded by Council Member McAuley to:
A. Dispense with the reading and approve the Minutes for August 6, 2024, [as presented in Exhibit 1];
B. Approve the July Warrant Register [in the amounts of: General Fund, $587,506.59; Industrial
Development Grant Fund, $48,042.10; Public Facilities Improvement Fund, $24,264.54; Other Grants
Capital Fund, $18,249.82; and Capital Improvement Projects Fund, $3,039.00; as presented in Exhibit
2]; and
C. Approve the disposal and destruction of obsolete computers [as presented in Exhibit 3].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Mr. Andrew Treadwell, with Indian River State College (IRSC), gave a 15 slide PowerPoint presentation
which was added to the Official Minutes file, labeled as Exhibit 8. After a nationwide drop in college
enrollments, IRSC has partnered with the local area high schools to promote secondary education
through the Promise Program which focuses on providing career driven education at an affordable cost.
The local campus consists of 45 acres as well as the newly purchased 205.5 acres of land north of the
Okeechobee High School, which will house the Okee-One Data Campus. IRSC's focus for the 2024-25
School Year is to continue with the Promise Program, increase enrollment, improve student outcomes
and successes, promote organizational improvement, protect the cost of quality education, and to
maintain their current objectives. No official action was taken as this discussion was for information
purposes only.
B. As instructed by consensus of the Council during the Budget Workshop on August 6, 2024, Administrator
Ritter conveyed the Fire Services Interlocal Agreement with the County, was originally entered into on
December 18, 2020, with an effective date of June 1, 2021 [later amended to August 2, 2021], running
through October 1, 2026. A timeline, nor the process, to adopt a referendum to become effective at the
end of the Contract was not available at this time to present. The City Attorney will gather the required
information regarding the referendum to present at a later date.
C. Vice Mayor Clark made a motion, seconded by Council Member Jarriel, to read by title only, proposed
Ordinance No. 1291 correcting a scrivener's error in Ordinance No. 1287, smoking in City parks [as
presented in Exhibit 4].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
DRAFT MINUTES AUGUST 20,2024,CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING&SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR FY 2024-25,
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V. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED
C. Continued. City Attorney John Fumero read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1291 as
follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FL, CORRECTING A SCRIVENER'S
ERROR IN THE SECTION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES WITHIN ORDINANCE NO. 1287 THAT
AMENDED CHAPTER 30-ENVIRONMENT; ADDING A SECTION PROHIBITING SMOKING IN
PUBLIC CITY PARKS; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT;
PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE."
Council Member McAuley made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Clark, to approve the first reading,
and set September 11, 2024, as the final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No. 1291. Roll
Call Vote: Chandler—Yea, Clark—Yea, Jarriel—Yea, McAuley—Yea, Watford—Yea.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
D. Council Member Jarriel made a motion, seconded by Council Member McAuley, to read by title only,
proposed Ordinance No. 1292, amending Code Enforcement definitions and adding Code Enforcement
Hearing Guidelines [as presented in Exhibit 5].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
City Attorney Fumero read into the record the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1292 as follows: "AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FL AMENDING CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE II OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES AND IMPLEMENTING GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR CODE
ENFORCEMENT SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HEARINGS; REVISING ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND
AMENDING OTHER PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT ENFORCEMENT OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."
Council Member McAuley made a motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Clark, to approve the first reading,
and set September 11, 2024, as the final Public Hearing date for proposed Ordinance No. 1292. Roll
Call Vote: Chandler—Yea, Clark—Yea, Jarriel—Yea, McAuley—Yea, Watford—Yea.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
E. Vice Mayor Clark made a motion. seconded by Council Member Jarriel, to approve Amendment No. 1 to
the Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Agreement with Florida Power and Light [as presented in
Exhibit 6].
Motion Carried Unanimously.
VI. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE
• Code Enforcement Special Magistrate proposed Ordinance on tonight's agenda.
• Submitted the process to extend the Engineering Services Agreements to City staff on August 5, 2024.
• Researched Attorney General Opinions regarding park usage for political candidates, information was
sent to City staff on August 7, 2024.
• Looking for Opinions on a Probationary Engineers' right to perform services.
• Animal Control Services Interlocal Agreement revisions were sent to City staff on August 15, 2024.
• The City Administrator's Employment Agreement amendment is in the works.
• The Encroachment Agreement with Lightsey's Restaurant was sent to City staff for review on August 19,
2024.
• A draft of the Attorney General's Opinion regarding revisions to the Food Truck Ordinance is under
review.
• Waiting for Landmark Precast, LLC to schedule the sale of Commerce Center Lots 17, 17A, and 17B.
VII. CITY ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
• FL Department of Transportation (FDOT) has completed the sidewalks on the north side of State Road
70/North Park Street (ST) and is now working on the south side, then putting in turning lanes and
repaving.
• FDOT has requested the usage of the City's rights-of-way to store their drainage pipes for the 441
South/Parrott AVE and Southwest 21st ST Drainage Project.
• The Public Works Department staff has the City's Fire Engine One running for the Labor Day Parade on
September 2, 2024.
DRAFT MINUTES AUGUST 20, 2024,CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING&SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR FY 2024-25.
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VIII. COUNCIL COMMENTS
• Council Member Jarriel reminded everyone about the Pete Clemons Labor Day Weekend Rodeo on
August 31, 2024, and September 1, 2024, at 6:30 P.M.
• Mayor Watford thanked the Council for allowing him to represent the City at the FL League of Cities
Conference.
IX. MAYOR WATFORD RECESSED THE REGULAR MEETING AND OPENED THE SECOND BUDGET
WORKSHOP FOR FISCAL YEAR(FY)2024-25 AT 5:50 P.M.
A. The purpose of the Workshop was to review and discuss the proposed Millage Rate and Budget for FY
2024-25, Exhibit 7. Based on the consensus and discussions during the First Budget Workshop, a one-
page document was distributed at the meeting and added to Exhibit 7 listing the items that were
revised/updated. The General Fund revisions include using the Millage Rate of 6.1602, decreasing the
proposed fuel costs totaling $11,575.00; and increasing the General Services Department operational
expenses by$8,500.00 for Animal Control Services Contract increase.
The changes to the Capital Improvement Projects Fund proposed Budget are as follows: removed light
poles and globes at City Hall, -$10,000.00; removed landscaping at City Hall, -$20,000.00; removed the
purchase of a Dump Truck, -$100,000.00; removed the costs for the Chamber of Commerce's building
septic to sewer, -$20,000.00, Administrator Ritter advised the Okeechobee Utility Authority staff will be
doing research on the Lift Station at the Chamber of Commerce; depending on the outcome, it may
significantly lower the cost of this project; reduced Parks and Park Capital Improvements by$25,000.00;
and reduced the expenses for updating the Christmas displays, $5,000.00. Moved the purchase of the
Dump Truck to the Industrial Development Grant Fund. Administrator Ritter advised that the City finally
received reimbursement from the State for both Cattlemen's Square and the Kayak Launch at Centennial
Park.
Also distributed at the meeting, but not discussed, and added to Exhibit 7 was a one page document
break down of the monthly cost of purchasing a Street Sweeper over a 10, 12, and 15 years' life
expectancy, compared to the monthly cost of contracting the services, each showing a monthly savings.
Council Member Jarriel suggested increasing the paving projects. Administrator Ritter advised that staff
was in the finishing stages to start Phase II of the SE 8th AVE Stormwater and Repaving Project using a
$240,000.00 FL Department of Environmental Protection Grant. As well as working on a Piggyback
Agreement with the County to contract paving services out to either CW Roberts or Ranger. It was the
consensus of the Council to proceed with the projected amounts in the proposed Budget and
make Mid-Year amendments, if needed.
X. MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR FY 2024-25 AND
RECONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION AT 6:12 P.M.
Council Member Jarriel added that he knew the Council Comments portion of the meeting had passed, but
wanted to make sure to extend his thanks to the Public Works staff, for the job they completed on 9th ST.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 6:13 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 MINUTES AUGUST 20,2024,CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING&SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP FOR FY 2024-25,
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