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HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-June 18, 2020 VSCMCITY OF OPA-LOCKA "The Great City" CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES VIRTUAL SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, June 18, 2020 6:30 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Matthew A. Pigatt called the virtual Special Commission Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, issued by the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis on March 20, 2020, municipalities may conduct meetings of their governing boards without having a quorum of its members present physically or at any specific location, and utilizing communications media technology such as telephonic or video conferencing, as provided by Section 120.54(5)(b)2, Florida Statutes. An opportunity was given to the public to email the City Clerk prior to the Commission Meeting with any questions/comments/concerns on items we will hear on this evening's Regular Commission Meeting agenda. This meeting is being streamed live at https://www.youtube.com/user/CityotDpaLocka. Since this is a virtual meeting as authorized by the Governor of the State of Florida, again, members of the public wishing to address the Commission have been offered the opportunity to do so. Public comments will be included as part of the public record for this virtual meeting and will be considered by the City Commission prior to any action taken. 2. ROLL CALL: The members of the City Commission appearing remotely were: Mayor Matthew Pigatt, Vice Mayor Chris Davis, Commissioner Joseph L. Kelley, Commissioner Sherelean Bass, and Commissioner Alvin Burke. Also appearing remotely were: City Manager John E. Pate, City Attorney Bumadette Norris -Weeks, and City Clerk Joanna Flores. 3. INVOCATION: The invocation was delivered by Commissioner Sherelean Bass. 4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. 5. SECOND READING ORDINANCE/PUBLIC HEARING: a) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 23 OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA'S CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED "EMPLOYEE PROTECTION WHISTLE BLOWER ACT" TO 1 ALLOW FOR AN IMPARTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS WITHIN THE CITY FOR WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CONFLICT AND REPEALER, INCLUSION IN CODE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (first reading/public hearing held on June 4, 2020). Sponsored by City Attorney The above ordinance was ready by City Attorney Norris -Weeks. Mayor Pigatt opened the floor for a public hearing. There being no persons to speak on the public hearing, the public hearing was closed. It was moved by Vice Mayor Davis, seconded by Commissioner Burke for discussion. Commissioner Kelley said he is concerned about the process of the manager appointing a three person committee. He asked if this is the same as before because he does not see any additional changes. City Attorney Norris -Weeks said it has changed. She spoke to the Commission on Ethics and once this is passed, it will be an amendment to the previous document. The reason it states that the document went to the Mayor is because it is a form from the county which has a strong Mayor form of government. It comes from the City Manager being the subject of the complaint and the document will go to the city's Risk Manager and then a three person committee. The City Clerk provided an updated document prior to the meeting. City Clerk Flores acknowledged receiving the ordinance the day before and replied via email to the attorney regarding whether or not the document was amended, but she did not receive a response. The amended ordinance has not been provided to the Commission. It was the consensus of the Commission to recess the meeting at 6:50 p.m. for 10 minutes to allow the Commission to receive and review the amendment ordinance. The meeting reconvened at 7:00 p.m. City Attorney Norris -Weeks said paragraph 1 is the same with the exception of the Risk Manager. The language in the second page was removed where it speaks to Miami -Dade County Ethics Commission because they could not be involved unless the city was going to specifically follow their ordinance. She asked that paragraph (c) on the second line be changed to reflect that the city's Risk Manager would become involved if the complaint was against the manager. Also, paragraph E was amended to reflect that the City will establish a whistleblower process including a form for receiving confidential whistleblower complaints through the Human Resources Department. She further stated that paragraph 5 was omitted because it is not applicable at this time. Mayor Pigatt said the changes are being made through an amendment received from the City Attorney at 6:53 p.m. during the meeting. 2 It was moved by Vice Mayor Davis, seconded by Commissioner Burke to pass the amendments as read into the record by Attorney Norris -Weeks. There being no further discussion, the motion on the amendment passed by a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Burke Yes Vice Mayor Davis Yes Commissioner Kelley Yes Commissioner Bass Yes Mayor Pigatt Yes The motion on the ordinance passed by a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Burke Yes Vice Mayor Davis Yes Commissioner Kelley Yes Commissioner Bass Yes Mayor Pigatt Yes 6. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Commissioner Burke, seconded by Vice Mayor Davis to adjourn the virtual meeting at 7:08 p.m. ATTEST: Joanna Flores CITY CLERK 3 M'afthew A. Pigatt MAYOR