December 19, 2023 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• The City Manager shared that the city received a letter of thanks from the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police for a recent body armor donation.
• The City Manager also served as a judge at the American Legion speech contest for high schoolers from Moore Public Schools, noting the opportunity for a $25,000 scholarship for national winners.

Key Decisions & Votes

Adoption of Updated Building and Fire Codes (Ordinances 1038-23 through 1046-23)

The Council unanimously approved a series of ordinances to update the city's building and fire codes. These updates replace the 2015 codes and 2014 electric codes with the 2018 International Code series and the 2020 National Electric Code, aligning Moore with state adoptions from 2021 and 2022. Key changes include:

• Ordinance 1038-23: Establishes investigation processes and fees for work done without a building permit and unauthorized cover-up work, and formalizes a Building Board of Appeals.
• Ordinance 1039-23: Adopts the 2018 International Building Code and Residential Code, defining "flex space," shifting footer design responsibility to professional engineers, and incorporating state-adopted requirements for manual J (heat and air exchange design) and outdoor emergency electrical service disconnects.
• Ordinance 1040-23: Adopts the 2018 International Plumbing Code, adding footer protection, minimum distance for private service lines to mains, and requiring sanitary sewer backflow check systems for new construction.
• Ordinance 1041-23: Adopts the 2020 National Electric Code, prohibiting aluminum wiring in residential occupancies or sleeping quarters.
• Ordinance 1042-23: Adopts the 2018 International Mechanical Code, addressing access plenums and boots under slabs for ductwork.
• Ordinance 1043-23: Adopts the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, providing a more structured approach to property maintenance, including documentation review and an appeal process.
• Ordinance 1044-23: Adopts the 2018 International Fire Code, focusing on fire wall labeling, minimum fire area for S1 occupancies (mini storage units) to 2500 sq ft, and sprinkler requirements in attic spaces.
• Ordinance 1045-23: Adopts the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, updating footer protection.
• Ordinance 1046-23: Adopts the 2018 International Existing Building Code, providing clearer guidelines for work on existing structures and remodels, including ADA bathroom updates.

Veterans Memorial Park Trail Enhancement

The Council approved awarding bid number 2024-006 for the Veterans Memorial Park Trail Enhancement to Green Shade Trees LLC for 💰 $562,209.85. This project will enhance the southern part of the park, south of 7th Street.

Management of Youth Baseball Activities at Buck Thomas Park

The Council approved authorizing staff to solicit proposals for the management and programming of recreational youth baseball activities at Buck Thomas Park for the 2024 season. This decision follows compliance issues with the 2022 lease agreement.

Professional Engineering Services for Road Reconstruction Projects

The Council approved three agreements for professional engineering services related to the 2023 bond issue projects:

• Team Design PLLC for 💰 $244,240 for the Northwest 27th Street reconstruction project (Hillcrest Avenue to I-35 Service Road).
• Garver LLC for 💰 $453,924 for the Eastern Avenue reconstruction project (Northeast 12th Street to Northeast 27th Street).
• Olson Inc. for 💰 $550,825 for the Northeast 27th Street reconstruction project (Eastern Avenue to I-35 Service Road).

Furniture for New Animal Adoption Center

A contract was approved with John A. Marshall Company for 💰 $83,549.85 for furniture (chairs, desks, cabinets, benches) for the new Moore Animal Adoption Center, utilizing the Omnia Partners government purchasing co-op.

Financial Matters 💰

• Employee Stipends: The Council approved the issuance of a $500 end-of-year stipend for all regular and probationary full-time active employees, as well as regular part-time active employees receiving benefits as of 📅 December 1st, 2023. A $250 stipend was approved for all other active part-time employees as of 📅 December 1st, 2023.
• Claims and Expenditures:
  • City Council: Approved claims and expenditures for FY2023-2024 totaling $5,799,475.73.
  • Moore Public Works Authority: Approved claims and expenditures for FY2023-2024 totaling $715,803.71.
  • Moore Risk Management: Approved claims and expenditures for FY2023-2024 totaling $312,627.20.
• Budget Amendment: A budget amendment was approved to account for the purchase of property at 2001 North Moore, additional grants and donations received in FY2024, carry-over balance for fire union equipment, and increased softball improvements budget.
• Stop Loss Insurance Renewal: The Council approved the renewal of stop loss insurance with Ironshore Indemnity Inc. for 📅 January 1, 2024, through 📅 January 1, 2025. This renewal, negotiated by Gallagher, is expected to decrease the annual spend by approximately 4% (over $269,000) by increasing the specific deductible from $125,000 to $135,000.
• Excess Public Officials and Employment Practice Liability Policy: The Moore Public Works Authority approved the renewal of this policy with Indian Harbor Insurance Company for 💰 $49,580.44. This represents a 17% increase from the previous year's premium.
• Property and Contents Insurance Policy Renewals: The Moore Public Works Authority approved the renewal of various property insurance policies (property, excess property, excess flood, cyber, and physical damage for sanitation/fire trucks) with a total premium of 💰 $877,002.02. This amount was amended from the original agenda item. The premium increased significantly, particularly for excess property and equipment floater due to new sanitation trucks and recent claims. The city expects a $40,000 rebate from last year due to no property claims.

Public Comments

• Buck Thomas Park Youth Baseball:
  • Kenneth Crawford, Vice President for Oklahoma Little League International, spoke in favor of bringing Little League to Moore and expressed his organization's commitment to submitting a proposal for managing youth baseball activities.
  • Casey Koberly, a volunteer coordinator with MYBA, expressed surprise at the city's decision to solicit new proposals and stated that MYBA plans to restructure its board and submit a proposal to continue its 30-year involvement with the community's baseball programs.
  • Patrice Williams raised concerns about a lack of communication regarding meetings about the youth baseball program and emphasized the need for transparency.

Agenda Summary Table