201  CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES  JANUARY 18, 2022, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING  CALL TO ORDER  Mayor Watford called the regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Okeechobee to order on. January 18, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, located at 55 Southeast 3rd Avenue, Room 200, Okeechobee, Florida. The invocation was offered by! Mayor Watford, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led Roll was taken by City Clerk Lane Gamiotea to establish a quorum. Members present: Mayor Dowling R. Watford, Jr, Council Members Noel A. Chandler, Monica M. Clark, Robert "Bob" Jarriel, and Robert "Bobby" A. Mayor Watford asked whether there were any agenda items to be added, deferred, or withdrawn. New B. Motion by Council Member Keefe, seconded by Council Member Clark to approve the agenda as amended.  by Council Member Keefe. II. ATTENDANCE Keefe, Jr.  III. AGENDA AND PUBLIC COMMENTS  Business Item' "C," was added. Motion Carried Unanimously.  C. Noo comment cards were: submitted for public participation fori issues not on the agenda.  IV. PRESENTATIONS ANDI PROCLAMTIONS  A. Police Officer Brandon Greisemer, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was recognized by Mayor Watford and Police Chief Donald Hagan for his years of service. He was presented with a Cross Pen featuring his name engraved and af framed certificate, which read' "In recognition of your five years of service, hard work, and dedication to the City, its citizens andy your fellow employees from January  4,2017, through January 4, 2022."  V. CONSENT AGENDA  Motion ands second by Council Members Jarriel and Clark to:  A. [Dispensed with the reading and] approve the meeting minutes for December 21, 2021 [as presented). B. Approve the Warrant Register for December 2021 [in the amounts: General Fund, $517,107.37; Public Facilities Improvement Fund, $14,196.40; and Capital Improvement Projects Fund, $13,361.72, as A. Motion ands second! by Council Members Clark and! Keefet tor readb byt title only, proposed Ordinancel No.1231, closing the alleyway in Block 110, CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, Abandonment of Right-of-Way Petition No. City Attorney John Fumero read proposed Ordinance No.1 1231 byt title only as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; VACATING AND ABANDONING CERTAIN RIGHTS-OF- WAY BEING AN UNIMPROVED PORTION OF AN ALLEYWAY LYING WITHIN BLOCK 110, CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, ACCORDING TO THE PLATTHEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 5, PAGE5 5, PUBLIC RECORDS OF OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA PETITION NO. 21-001-AC; RESERVING UNTO THE CITY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS AI NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT FOR PUBLIC UTILITESPURPOSES; DIRECTINGTHE CITY CLERKTOI RECORDTHE ORDINANCE INTHER PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN City staff advised thato duet toa a recents submittal fora aFuturel Land Use Map Amendment and Zoning Petition, the final adoption for this proposed ordinance needs to be postponed. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and. Jarriel to postpone the adoption of proposed Ordinance No. 1231 to March 15, 2022. Mr. Mitch Stephen of 17775 Middle Brooke Way, Boca Raton, who is the property owner and applicant addressed the Council explaining the Federal Program for Economic Opportunity Zones of which this property is located within and his proposed development for an apartment complex. Motion Carried  presented). Motion Carried Unanimously.  VI. MAYOR WATFORD OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:09 P.M.  21-001-AC [as presentedi in Exhibit 1). Motion Carried Unanimously.  EFFECTIVEI DATE."  Unanimously.  1-18-2022, CITY COUNCIL REGULARI MEETING, PAGE10F3    202  VI. PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED  B. Motion and second by Council Members Keefe and Clark to read by title only, proposed Ordinance No. 1232, closing the alleyway in Block 121,CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, Abandonment ofF Right-of-Way Petition Attorney Fumero read proposed Ordinance No.1232 by title only as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; VACATING AND ABANDONING CERTAIN RIGHTS-OF-WAY BEING AN UNIMPROVED PORTION OF AN ALLEYWAY LYING WITHIN BLOCK 121, CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, ACCORDING TOTHE PLAT THEREOF ASI REÇORDED INI PLAT BOOK 5, PAGE5, PUBLIC RECORDS OF OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA PETITION NO. 21-002-AC; RESERVING UNTO THE CITY, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS Al NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT FOR PUBLIC UTILITIESI PURPOSES,DIRECTINTHECIYCLERATORECORDTHE ORONANCEINTHEPUBUC RECORDS OF THE CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN Citys staffa advised that duet toa arecent submittal for al Futurel Land Usel Map Amendment and2 Zoning Petition, the final adoption for this proposed ordinance needs to be postponed. Motion and second by Council Members Jarriel and Clark toy postpone the adoption of proposed Ordinance No. 12321 to March 15, 2022. C. Motion and second by Council Members Clark and. Jarriel to read by title only, proposed Ordinance No. 1247, amending the Code of Ordinances Chapter 30, Nuisances, toy provide Code Enforcement procedures regarding demolition of blighted and dangerous structures [as presented in Exhibit 3). Motion Carried Attorney Fumero read proposed Ordinance No.1247 as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA RELATING TO THE DEMOLITION OF BLIGHTED STRUCTURES; AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES AT CHAPTER 30, ARTICLE II "NUISANCE" BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTION 30-31 "DEFINITIONS"; SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTION 30-43 "PUBLIC NUISANCES"; SPECIFICALLY AMENDING SECTION 30-74' RESERVED"; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND Motion and second by Council Members Clark and Keefe to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 1247. Motion  No. 21-002-AC [as presented in Exhibit 2). Motion Carried Unanimously.  EFFECTIVE DATE."  Motion Carried Unanimously.  Unanimously.  PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."  Carried Unanimously.  MAYOR WATFORD CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT6 6:19P.M.  VII. NEW BUISNESS  A. Mr. John Creasman, Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) Board Chairperson, presented a recap of the October 2021 update, which featured their three major Southwest Service Area (SWSA) projects and the Southwest (SW) 5th Avenue Septic to Sewer Project. SWSAI Project 1 consists of al Master Pump Station, Master Forcel Main, and SE-2D Diversion! Forcel Main. Thee expected totald costo of $6,1 186,939.00i ist fullyf funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Appropriations. SWSA Project 2i includes twor master vacuum stations anda a collections system ando could provide approximately 700new connections. The expected total costs, including engineering and construction is $10,830,783.00 with $612,756.00 for the Oakl Lake Estates portion. This projecti is partially funded by FDEP Appropriations with the remainder tol be funded from al United States Department of Agriculture loan. Construction is tol begin tentatively by December 2022. SWSA Project 3 consists of the Okee-Tantie Force Main, and the State Road 78 service corridor to the Master Pump Station to provide approximately 6001 new connections. The expected costi is $8,575,000.00 and is fully funded by the FDEP Appropriations. Construction is scheduled for April 2023 with completion by Summer 2024. When completed, these projects are expected tor remove annually, 12.4 tons of nitrogen and 3t tons of phosphorus from being discharged intot the waterways. The SW5 5th Avenue Septic to Sewer Project, has not been finalized, design is to begin by Spring of 2022 with bidding in late A new project he reviewed is the Treasure Island Septic to Sewer Project. Design is expected to be completedi in Summer of 2023, with! bidding in the Falla and construction to! begin by! December. Completion ise expectedi inl late Spring 2025. Thei funding for this project hasr not been identified. Mr. Creasman assured the Council that all types of design systems will be considered. The selected design will be based on the one that provides the best life expectancy and maintenance during power-outages. The next project to begin will be Pine Ridge Park. The 12-slide power point presentation has been incorporated in the official  Fall and construction by December. Completion is expected byl late Summer 2023.  minute file.  1-18-2022, CITY COUNCIL REGULARI MEETING,PAGE20F3    203  VII. NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED  A. Continued: In response to the Councils' questions, Mr. Creasman explained that the OUA has not been provided with information on how the proposed development that is being considered South of the Buckhead Ridge area (in Glades County) and is within the OUA Service Area, will be serviced for wastewater. The topic of how customers are notified when boil water notices are issued and when ite ends was discussed. Mr. Creasman asked that the Council encourage individuals to contact the OUA office to ensure the correct phone numbers are ont file for these call-out notices, andt that they notify OUA staff when they do not receive a notice SO this can be corrected. Additionally, thei information is provided on the OUA website and Facebook page. Thisi itemi is for information purposes, no official action is required. B. Mayor Watford presented information regarding two proposed bills being considered currently. A motion ands second was made by Council Members Keefe and Jarriel tos send al letter officially opposing Senate Bill 620/House Bill 569 and supporting the adoption of Senate Bill 224/House Bill 1051 to the appropriate State Legislators, Leadership, Committee, and Floridal League of Cities. Motion Carried Unanimously. C. Administrator Ritter wanted the Council to be aware that the tax deed sale for the Primitive Baptist Church property, located at 1003 SW3 3rd Avenue (Legal: Lots 9-12 of Block 8, SOUTH OKEECHOBEE, Plat Book 1,Page 12, Okeechobee County public records), is on Thursday. Finance Director Riedel has completed the required online training, she explained the new electronic bidding process, which will require the Cityt to submit a cashier's check by Wednesday, of 10 percent of the maximum bid, estimated document stamps and recording fees. Ift the City's final bid is accepted, a second cahiers check for the remaining balance is required to be submitted within 24-hours. We will know by 4:00 P.M. Thursday if we are successful in  ITEM ADDED TO ADGENDA:  purchasing this property. No official action was required for thisi item.  VIII. CITY ATTORNEY UPDATE IX. CITY ADMINSTRATOR UPDATE  Attorney Fumero had no new information to provide.  The Strategic Five-Year Plan and power point will be sent to the Councils emails soon.  The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. ADM-01-32-11-21 selection/ranking committee will meet on January 24th at 10:00 A.M. with the results for City Council consideration at the February 1,2022, meeting. The contract for worki int the Commerce Center related tot the Water Management Permit will also be on the Work at the Cattleman's Square (Block L/Park #5) in Flagler Park continues with contractor Mark Brandel overseeing the construction. Mr. Frank DeCarlo of American Well Drilling donated the installation ofa av well The City's request for $500,000.00 went through the Legislative Committee as well as the Storm Water  February 1st agenda. for thei irrigation.  Project, funding continues to lookf favorable.  X. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS Council Member Jarriel: Council Member Keefe:  reminded everyone that the Town Hall Meeting is Monday, January 24th, he has been going door to door thanked Mayor Watford for being a" "home rule champion" and all that he does for the City, and encouraged inquired about the repairs to the gun in Veterans Park (Block E/Park #1 of Flagler Park). Council Member Chandler responded, Mr. Greg Maynard and several volunteers are working to complete the repairs.  throughout the neighborhoods to get peoplet to come; Judge Wallace was recovering well from ar recenti illness.  his fellow Council Members to speak up and keep a watch on potential legislation;  XI. ADJOURN, Mayor Watford adjourned the meeting at 7:06F P.M.  Submitted] Bya Lane  AnBphn Gamiotea, CMC City Clerk  Please take notice and be advised that when aj 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 proceedingi is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.  City Clerki media are fort the sole purpose ofb backup for official records of the Clerk.  1-18-2022, CITY COUNCIL REGULARI MEETING, PAGE30F3