2002-03-21328
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
MARCH 21, 2002
AGENDA
A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
B. CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD MEMBERS, MAYOR, AND
STAFF ATTENDANCE:
Chairperson Marsha Montesi
Vice -Chairperson Mack Worley, Jr.
Member Linda Ballinger
Member Jamie Gamiotea
Member Andrea Nelson
Member Harrison O'Connor
Member Rennae Sweda
Alternate Lori Creech
Alternate Isabel Weisser
Attorney John Cook
Secretary Sue Christopher
Code Enforcement Officer Chief Tomey
Code Enforcement Officer Bob Hillery
Mayor James E. Kirk
F,
DISCUSSION
March 21, 2002 Code Enforcement Board workshop was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairperson
Montesi.
Secretary Christopher called the roll:
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Absent with consent
Present (entered chambers at 6:10 p.m.)
Absent with consent
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
329 March 21, 2002 - Code Enforcement Workshop - Page 2 of 3
AGENDA
C. NEW BUSINESS - Discuss Code Enforcement Procedures
1. Improved and raw land
2. Abandoned vehicles no tags
. DISCUSSION
Chairperson Montesi opened the floor for disussion on cleaning of improved and raw land. Member
Worley questioned the responsibility of the property owners to keep the power line easements clean.
Mayor Kirk agreed for the need to be very specific in how the ordinance is worded so that the
responsibility would not be taken off the utililty company and placed on the property owner. Attorney
Cook said he would make corrections and make sure the ordinance is consistent with Section 515 of the
Land Development Regulations.
Attorney Cook stated that he felt the two main issues that need to be considered were if the Code
Enforcement Board wanted to recommend to the City Council that all property in the City be considered
improved property and if the Code Board felt it was a good idea to include a hardship clause to apply in
cases that it was determined strict or immediate compliance would cause the property owner to suffer a
hardship. Code Board members discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a
hardship clause written into the ordinance.
Member Worley felt the Code Enforcement Board should be leading the City into the direction of
becoming a well kept community. Mayor Kirk mentioned his concern of requiring property owners to
remove all natural growth and cautioned that we do not get to that point all at once. Mayor Kirk
suggested keeping a distinction between improved and unimproved property. Member Gamiotea
mentioned that it might be helpful to take into consideration the size of the property. He said, for
example making a special exception for property larger than one acre to maintain it's natural Florida
beauty would be one way to assure all natural vegetation was not removed. Member Worley suggested
keeping the existing ordinance and just rewording the sections dealing with improved and unimproved
property. He gave an example of how it might be worded to say if the property has a residential structure
an irrefutable presumption that it is
presumption that it may be improved land. Chairperson Montesi asked the Code Board Members to take
these suggestions into consideration and the discussion would be continued at the next workshop.
Chairperson Montesi opened the floor for discussion of disabled, inoperative motor vehicles, vessels or
speciality vehicles. There was some discussion as to the type of covering that should be allowed for
disabled vehicles. Chairperson Montesi suggested having a ten day limit for disabled vehicles and after
that should be moved. Member Gamiotea mentioned that even if a vehicle was operable it still needed to
have a current tag.
The Code Enforcement Board Members decided to schedule the next workshop on April 9, 2002 at 6
p.m. with the regularly scheduled meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
p -e 3 of 3 330
Enforcement Workshop Pa
March 21, 2002 -Code g
AGENDA
ADJOURNMENT - CHAIRPERSON MONTESI
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if a person decides to appeal any decision
made by the Code Enforcement Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting,
he/she may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record
includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. A tape recording
of this meeting is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
1
ATTEST:
1
,h r
Mar ha Montesi, Chairperson
DISCUSSION
Member Gamiotea moved to adjourn; seconded by Member Ballinger. Meeting adjourned 8:03 p.m.