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Council amends and punts final vote on ordinance to remove elected City Clerk from code
Summary
Council amended Ordinance No. 1327 (which would remove the elected City Clerk position and adjust election procedures) and postponed final adoption to April 21, 2026 after a 3–2 vote on an amendment to the qualifying week and a City Attorney recommendation to delay for procedural clarity.
Assistant City Attorney Stephen Conteaguero read the title of proposed Ordinance No. 1327 during the April 7 meeting: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FL; AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 26- ELECTIONS, BY REMOVING THE ELECTED OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK" and related procedural provisions.
Council debated scheduling language tied to candidate qualifying periods. City Clerk Lane Gamiotea had asked the council to reconsider a prior amendment and proposed moving the qualifying period to the first full week of August to avoid conflicts when the county primary coincides with city qualifying, explaining that such conflicts would prevent her from participating in Canvassing Board activities.
Council Member David R. McAuley moved to amend the ordinance to change the qualifying week to the first full week of August (described in the minutes as "from noon on the 92nd day prior to the November General Election but no later than noon on the 96th day prior to the November General Election"). The motion to amend carried three to two; Vice Mayor Monica M. Clark and Council Member Robert "Bob" Jarriel voted no.
Because the ordinance's title changed with the amendment, the City Attorney recommended postponing the final adoption so the council could take a final vote on a twice‑amended ordinance on a later date. Vice Mayor Clark moved to postpone the adoption to a date certain, April 21, 2026; the motion carried unanimously. The City Clerk's Office will post the amended language and the postponed public hearing notice on the city's website, bulletin board and social media.
The action leaves Ordinance No. 1327 amended but not yet adopted; the council will take the final vote on April 21, 2026.
