CITY OF OKEECHOBEE MAY 17, 2005 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION

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1 CITY OF OKEECHOBEE MAY 17, 2005 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION PAGE 1 OF 6 COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - I. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor: May 17, 2005 Regular City Council Meeting, 6:00 p.m. II. OPENING CEREMONIES: Invocation by Pastor Al Jaquith, Basinger First Baptist Church; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor. III. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF ATTENDANCE - City Clerk. Mayor James E. Kirk Council Member Noel A. Chandler Council Member Lowry Markham Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Council Member Lydia Jean Williams City Attorney/Interim City Administrator John R. Cook City Clerk Lane Gamiotea Deputy Clerk Melisa Eddings Police Chief Denny Davis Fire Chief Herb Smith Public Works Director Donnie Robertson Mayor Kirk called the May 17, 2005 Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Invocation was offered by Pastor Al Jaquith of Basinger First Baptist Church; The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Kirk. City Clerk Gamiotea called the roll: Absent IV. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. A. Proclaim the week of May 21-27, 2005 as Safe Boating Week. Mayor Kirk read the following proclamation in its entirety: WHEREAS, recreational boating is fun and enjoyable. We are fortunate that we have sufficient resources to accommodate the wide variety of pleasure boating demands. While being a marvelous source of recreation, boating to the unprepared can be a risky sport. Not knowing or obeying the Navigation Rules, drinking alcohol or taking drugs while operating a boat, or choosing not to wear a life jacket are all examples of lack of proper judgement. One particular behavior that can reduce, by approximately 80 percent, the number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year, is the wearing MAY 17, REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 6

2 COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION - IV. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS CONTINUED. A. Proclaim the week of May 21-27, 2005 as Safe Boating Week continued. V. MINUTES - City Clerk. A. Motion to dispense with the reading and approve the Summary of Council Action for the May 3, 2005 Regular Meeting. of a life jacket; and Whereas, a significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jackets; and Whereas, modern life jackets are more comfortable, more attractive and more wearable than styles of years past and deserve a fresh look by today s boating public. Now Therefore, I James E. Kirk, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Okeechobee, do hereby support the goals of the North American Safe Boating Campaign and proclaim May 21 through 27, 2005 as NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK and the start of the year-round effort to promote safe boating. I urge all of those who boat to Boat Smart from the Start by wearing a life jacket and practicing safe boating habits. Ms. Pam Ernst, Flotilla 57 Commander and Mr. Fred Sterling, Vice Flotilla 57 Commander were present to receive the Proclamation. Council Member Chandler moved to dispense with the reading and approve the Summary of Council Action for the May 3, 2005 Regular Meeting; seconded by Council Member Williams. There was no discussion on this item. VI. WARRANT REGISTERS - Interim City Administrator. A. Motion to approve the April 2005 Warrant Registers. Capitol Improvements Projects (Vehicles)... $456, General Fund... $359, Public Facility Improvement Fund... $54, Industrial Development Fund... $25, CDBG Grant... $3, Council Member Watford moved to approve the April 2005 Warrant Register in the amounts: Capitol Improvement Projects (Vehicles) Fund, four hundred fifty-six thousand, two hundred forty-seven dollars and ninety cents ($456,247.90); General Fund, three hundred fifty-nine thousand, two hundred eighty-nine dollars and seventy-four cents ($359,289.74); Public Facility Improvement Fund, fifty-four thousand, seven hundred two dollars and thirty-one cents ($54,702.31); Industrial Development Fund, twenty-five thousand, six hundred fifty-two dollars and thirty-five cents ($25,652.35); CDBG Grant Fund, three thousand, two hundred twenty-five dollars and zero cents ($3,225.00); seconded by Council Member Markham. There was a brief discussion on this item. MAY 17, REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 6

3 VI. WARRANT REGISTERS CONTINUED. A. Motion to approve the April 2005 Warrant Registers continued. VII. - Mayor. A. Requests for the addition, deferral or withdrawal of items on today s agenda. VIII. NEW BUSINESS. A. Consider setting a workshop on June 7, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussing health care coverage - City Attorney (Exhibit 1). B. Discussion pertaining to the installation of sediment traps by South Florida Water Management District - William Salters, Engineer. Mayor Kirk asked whether there were any additions, deferrals, or withdrawals of items on today s agenda. Add Item D under New Business, Mayor Kirk to discuss the new City Administrator Transition with the assistance of Attorney Cook. Council Member Markham moved to hold a workshop on June 7, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the health insurance options; seconded by Council Member Chandler. City Engineer Bermudez explained that the City has been working toward a revised stormwater management system within the City and with South Florida Water Management Division (SFWMD) for the past three years. He advised of an installation of sediment traps for the future master drainage plan. Mr. Salters, Engineer for SFWMD, informed the Council of this great opportunity for the City and SFWMD to help with the Lake Okeechobee clean up. There will be two sediment traps donated to the City. One will be located at the City limits, Northeast section, South of the Nursing Home. The second will be located at Northeast 4 th Street and 7 th Avenue. They are placed underground and the City will be responsible for the maintenance of the traps. This maintenance process is the cleaning or pumping of the traps twice a year. Mr. Gary Ridder of SFWMD also let the Council know that should they want to pursue obtaining more of these, he can look at the availability of grants as a combined effort with the City and SFWMD. MAY 17, REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 6 COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION -

4 VIII. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED. B. Discussion pertaining to the installation of sediment traps by South Florida Water Management District continued. The Council expressed their thanks to SFWMD and City Engineer, Oscar Bermudez. Council Member Watford moved to authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents to install the Sediment Traps; seconded by Council Member Markham. C. Consider approval of FY 05/06 FDOT highway lighting, maintenance, and compensation agreement and FDOT proposal for sweeping and mowing of medians - Attorney Cook (Exhibit 2). The Florida Department of Transportation Highway Maintenance agreement was withdrawn from the agenda. Council Member Watford moved to adopt proposed Resolution 05-04; seconded by Council Member Markham. Attorney Cook read proposed Resolution No by title only as follows: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT (REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC, ROADSIDE MOWING, ROADSIDE LITTER REMOVAL, ROAD AND BRIDGE SWEEPING, EDGING AND SWEEPING) WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Council Member Watford was concerned about the decrease in the amount allotted, and City Clerk Gamiotea explained the Department of Transportation (DOT) had met with Administrator Veach before his resignation and discussed this significant budget cut. Last year DOT paid the City twenty eight thousand, nine hundred thirteen and twenty-nine cents ($28,913.29) to maintain the State Highways and Roads within the City. However, due to budget cuts, the revised amount is twenty-one thousand, three dollars and seventy-seven cents ($21,003.77) per year for the next five years. The City has a yearly contract with Charlie s Trees for street sweeping in the amount of thirty-two thousand, seven hundred eight dollars and zero cents ($32,708.00) and a mowing contract with Big O Lawn Care for thirteen thousand, two hundred dollars and zero cents ($13,200.00) which covers the lawn care for the medians, City parks, Police Department and City Hall. The DOT portion is not separated out in the contract. MAY 17, REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 6 COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION -

5 VIII. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED. C. Consider approval of FY 05/06 FDOT highway lighting, maintenance, and compensation agreement and FDOT proposal for sweeping and mowing of medians continued. The Council requested that this portion be separated in the future when its re-bid, in order for the City to be sure we are not bearing any of the States costs. Clerk Gamiotea was directed to advise Public Works Director Robertson and City Administrator Whitehall of this. D. ITEM ADDED TO : Transition period for New City Administrator - Mayor. Mayor Kirk stated the new Administrator, Mr. Brian Whitehall, will be here June 1, The Mayor suggested that Attorney Cook continue to work in the Interim City Administrator/City Attorney capacity to spend time and assist Mr. Whitehall for a month. He will need to become familiar with the organizations, people and functions of City Hall and our hometown of Okeechobee. Since the City has a number of projects pending, it would be in the best interest of the City for Mr. Cook to assist with this transition since he is knowledgeable on the present situations. There was a brief discussion and Council Member Watford stated he felt the Staff of the City would be quite capable of assisting Mr. Whitehall, but he agreed with Mayor Kirk that the transition would be smoother with the assistance of Mr. Cook. City Council directed Interim Administrator/City Attorney Cook to assist new City Administrator Whitehall through June 30, 2005, and the City will continue to pay him the salary difference during this time. MAY 17, REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 6 OF 6 COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION -

6 IX. ADJOURN MEETING - Mayor. Pleas e take notice and be advis ed tha t whe n a per son d ecide s to ap peal an y dec ision m ade by the C ity Co uncil with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, he/she may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, w hich record includes the testimony and evidence upon w hich the appeal is to be based. City Clerk tapes are for the sole purpose of backup for official records of the Clerk. THERE BEING NO FURTHER ITEMS ON THE, MAYOR KIRK ADJOURNED THE MEETING AT 6:45 P.M. The next regularly scheduled meeting is June 7, James E. Kirk, Mayor ATTEST: Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk