CITY OF OKEECHOBEE JANUARY 5, 2016, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING 55 SE 3 RD AVENUE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974 SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION PAGE 1 OF 5 I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor January 5, 2016, City Council Regular Meeting, 6:00 P.M. II. OPENING CEREMONIES Invocation to be given by Reverend Jim Shevlin of Church of Our Saviour; Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Mayor Kirk. III. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF ATTENDANCE - City Clerk Mayor James E. Kirk Council Member Noel A. Chandler Council Member Mike O=Connor Council Member Gary Ritter Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr. City Administrator Marcos MontesDeOca City Attorney John R. Cook City Clerk Lane Gamiotea Deputy Clerk Melisa Jahner Police Chief Denny Davis Fire Chief Herb Smith Public Works Director David Allen V. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS Mayor A. a Ten Year Longevity Service Award to Jack Boon, Police Department. IV. AGENDA - Mayor A. Requests for the addition, deferral or withdrawal of items on today=s agenda. Mayor Kirk called the January 5, 2016, Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. The invocation was offered by Reverend Shevlin of Church of Our Saviour; the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Kirk. City Clerk Gamiotea called the roll: On behalf of the City, Mayor Kirk and Police Chief Davis presented to Mr. Jack D. Boon a leather embossed portfolio and a framed certificate which read, In recognition of your ten years of service, hard work, and dedication to the City of Okeechobee, its citizens, and your fellow employees, as a Police Officer and Detective, from December 9, 2005 to December 9, 2015. Detective Boon, who was accompanied with his wife Chris, daughter Alex and son Joshua, offered his gratitude to the Mayor, Council and Chief Davis for the opportunity and for accepting him and his family into the community, they have enjoyed making it their home. Mayor Kirk asked whether there were any requests for the addition, deferral or withdrawal of items on today=s agenda. Items were not added or removed, however, a revised published agenda was distributed prior to the start of the meeting which re-categorized and corrected wording on several items.
VI. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER LDR TEXT AMENDMENTS - Mayor A.1.a) Motion to read proposed Ordinance No. 1130 by title only, and set January 19, 2016, as a final public hearing date, regarding Land Development Regulation Text Amendments, Application No. 15-005-TA City Planning Consultant (Exhibit 1). b) Vote on motion to read by title only and set final public hearing date. COUNCIL ACTION - DISCUSSION VOTE JANUARY 5, 2016 REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 5 MAYOR KIRK OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LDR TEXT AMENDMENTS AT 6:08 P.M. Council Member Chandler moved to read proposed Ordinance No. 1130 by title only, and set January 19, 2016, as a final Public Hearing date, regarding Land Development Regulation (LDR) Text Amendments, Application No. 15-005-TA; seconded by Council Member Watford. c) City Attorney to read proposed Ordinance No. 1130 by title only. Attorney Cook read proposed Ordinance No. 1130 by title only as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS TO PART II OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, SUBPART B-LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS CHAPTER 66-GENERAL PROVISIONS TO INCLUDE A DEFINITION WITHIN SECTION 66-1 FOR YOUTH CENTER; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 90-ZONING, ARTICLE III-DISTRICT AND DISTRICT REGULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY: DIVISION 5-RESIDENTIAL MULTIPLE-FAMILY DISTRICT SECTION 90-193, TO INCLUDE YOUTH CENTER AND RECOVERY CENTER/SOBER HOME WITHIN THE LIST OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES; DIVISION 7-LIGHT COMMERCIAL DISTRICT SECTION 90-252, TO INCLUDE CONVENIENCE STORE WITHIN THE LIST OF PERMITTED USES AND SECTION 90-253, TO INCLUDE ALCOHOL AND DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER/DETOX CENTER AND RECOVERY CENTER/SOBER HOME WITHIN THE LIST OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES; DIVISION 8-HEAVY COMMERCIAL DISTRICT SECTION 90-282, TO INCLUDE CONVENIENCE STORE AND INDOOR AUCTION HOUSE WITHIN THE LIST OF PERMITTED USES AND SECTION 90-283, TO INCLUDE ALCOHOL AND DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER/DETOX CENTER, INDOOR AUCTION CONVENIENCE STORE WITH FUEL PUMPS, RETAIL POOL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, WATER TREATMENT SERVICES, AND PEST CONTROL (ALL INCLUDING STORAGE OF CHEMICALS FOR USE AND/OR RETAIL SALE) WITHIN THE LIST OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES; DIVISION 10-INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, SECTION 90-342, TO INCLUDE RETAIL POOL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, WATER TREATMENT SERVICES, AND PEST CONTROL (ALL INCLUDING STORAGE OF CHEMICALS FOR USE AND/OR RETAIL SALE) WITHIN THE LIST OF PERMITTED USES; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 90-ZONING, ARTICLE IV SUPPLEMENTARY DISTRICT REGULATIONS, DIVISION 3, OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING, SECTION 90-512-SPACE REGULATIONS, SUBSECTION (2) COMMERCIAL USES, TO INCLUDE MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDOOR AUCTION HOUSES WITH AND WITHOUT FIXED SEATING, NAIL SALON, RETAIL SERVICE AND PERSONAL SERVICE; AMENDING CHAPTER 90-ZONING, SECTIONS 90-105 AND 90-572 TO CORRECT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR AND INCORRECT REFERENCE, RESPECTIVELY; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
VI. LDR PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED A.2.a) Motion to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 1130. b) Public comments and discussion. JANUARY 5, 2016 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 5 Motion and second by Council Members Chandler and O Connor to approve the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 1130. Mayor Kirk yielded the floor to City Planning Consultant, Mr. Bill Brisson of LaRue Planning and Management to review the City initiated proposed amendments as well as the recommendation of approval by the Planning Board. A Youth Center definition is being added. The use of a youth center as well as a Recovery Center and/or Sober Home use are being provided for as Special Exceptions within Residential Multiple Family Zoning. Light Commercial Permitted Uses would be expanded from the existing six listed to add Convenience Store; and the Special Exception Uses list of 19 will now include Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers and/or Detox Centers, and Recovery Centers and/or Sober Homes. Heavy Commercial Permitted Uses will provide two new uses to their existing 15 by adding Convenience Store and Indoor Auction House; the Special Exception Uses of 22 will add five more to provide for Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centers and/or Detox Centers, Convenience Store with Fuel Pumps, Retail Pool Supplies and Equipment, Water Treatment Services, and Pest Control (including storage of chemicals for use and/or retail sales for the last three listed). Industrial Permitted Uses would be expanded from 29 to 32 by adding Retail Pool Supplies and Equipment, Water Treatment Services, and Pest Control (including storage of chemicals for use and/or retail sales for each). Commercial Off-street Parking and Loading Regulations will expand the criteria to include retail and personal service, nail salon, and indoor auction house. Council Members Watford and Ritter asked whether any existing, established business would have to meet these new requirements, or would this impact them in any way? Planner Brisson replied no, they would be grandfathered in since they are in operation at the time of the amendment. Council Member Chandler followed-up by asking whether that also applied should they sell the business or change names, or would that cause them to have to meet these new requirements? Planner Brisson answered normally no, they are operating as a use that s permitted when these went into effect and would be grandfathered in. No additional questions or discussion was offered. Mayor Kirk asked whether there were any questions or comments from the public. There were none. c) Vote on motion. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING - Mayor MAYOR KIRK CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LDR TEXT AMENDMENTS AT 6:16 P.M.
VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Chamber of Commerce of Okeechobee County Economic Development Report for the Fourth Quarter of 2015 John Gurney, Business Development Director JANUARY 5, 2016 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 5 Mr. John Gurney, was recently appointed as the Business Development Director by the Chamber of Commerce, and provided an Economic Development Report covering the last quarter of 2015. He traveled with representatives of the Research Coast Economic Coalition (Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Martin counties) to Dallas, Texas, to meet with site selector companies. The purpose of this trip was to promote the region in order to attract companies to bring their industry or operations here. Insights gained were that companies are interested in the availability of buildings and shovel ready land, how many potential employees live within an hour drive, and a skilled workforce. Companies do not look at areas with high unemployment rates coupled with low median annual income as it indicates a lack of skilled workers. They want to have access to searchable inventories of available properties, as well as easily find what incentives are available. He also attended the Florida Rural Economic Development Summit held in Orlando, in which he learned there is a trend for companies to locate and develop areas inland, from Lake Okeechobee and northward. The experts at the Summit said Florida s rural counties are ripe for development. They also stressed the need for shovel ready properties and a trainable workforce. Solutions to the hurdles that are holding back the City and County are to partner with School Superintendent Ken Kenworthy, IRSC Provost Russ Brown, and Heartland Career Source to expand the skilled workforce and decrease the high school drop-out rate; have all available and marketable properties on the Enterprise Florida website, which lists commercial and industrial-zoned properties within the state. The incentives currently in place need to be promoted more and from multiple sources. Additionally, he is researching other types of incentive packages that could be implemented. Projects already in the development stages are the Guy Harvey and Elite Resorts scheduled to open July 4, 2017; Harbor Freight Tools is close to completion, they hosted a job fair in which 150 people attended and 51 were hired; AEGEA World Resort will be meeting next week with the investors and working with CSX on the possibility of creating a rail freight loading and unloading facility. Other projects being pursued are: a bakery on demand at IRSC; a truck stop, green energy biomass company, fertilizer pellets manufacturer and a manufacturer of medical equipment, along with the need of a building to house a boat and RV refurbish and resale company. The Chamber continues to assist in marketing the Airport Industrial Park and the City Commerce Center. The Council thanked Mr. Gurney for his presentation. No official action was required on this item. B. Consider a Temporary Street Closing Application for Southwest 3 rd and 4 th Avenues between North and South Park Streets for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Festival on January 16, 2016, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., submitted by Sylvester Whitaker, Okeechobee Community Improvement Association City Administrator (Exhibit 2). Council Member Watford moved to approve a Temporary Street Closing Application for Southwest 3 rd and 4 th Avenues between North and South Park Streets for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Festival on January 16, 2016, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., as submitted by Sylvester Whitaker of the Okeechobee Community Improvement Association; seconded by Council Member Ritter. There was a brief discussion on this item.
VII. VIII. AGENDA NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED B. Consider a Temporary Street Closing Application for Southwest 3 rd and 4 th Avenues between North and South Park Streets for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Weekend Festival on January 16, 2016 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., continued. ADJOURNMENT Mayor 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, 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. City Clerk media are for the sole purpose of backup for official records of the Clerk. JANUARY 5, 2016 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 5 There being no further discussion, nor items on the agenda, Mayor Kirk adjourned the meeting at 6:52 P.M. The next Regular Meeting will be January 19, 2016. ATTEST: James E. Kirk, Mayor Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk