September 19, 2023 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• The City Council approved minutes from its regular meeting held 📅 September 5th, 2023.
• The Parks Board minutes from 📅 August 1st, 2023, were received.
• The More Public Works Authority approved minutes from its regular meeting held 📅 September 5th, 2023.
• The More Risk Management meeting minutes from 📅 September 5th, 2023, were approved.
• The More Economic Development Authority minutes from 📅 August 21st, 2023, were approved.
• The next meeting with city staff regarding the property at 2873 Woodlawn Drive is scheduled for 📅 December 18th.
• The ACOG Air Quality Small Grant award is expected in 📅 November, with a notice to proceed likely in 📅 December/January.

Key Decisions & Votes

Property Condemnation Appeal: 2873 Woodlawn Drive

• The Council considered an appeal of an administrative order condemning property at 2873 Woodlawn Drive.
• Decision: The Council affirmed the administrative officer's findings that the house is dilapidated and approved a detailed treatment plan developed with the homeowners and their attorney.
• Treatment Plan Details: Homeowners have temporarily moved out. Triton Foundation Repair will install new footings and stem walls, and repair floor joists. Habitat for Humanity will handle other repairs, including replacing doors/windows, trim, flashing, and installing vinyl siding (meeting city code for sheathing and insulation).
• Timeline: A new deadline of February next year was requested and approved, extending from mid-December, given the homeowners have vacated the property. Triton Foundation Repair will conduct an initial inspection of wall damage prior to January; if damage is extensive, a revised plan will be presented.

2023 City of More Standards and Specifications

• The Council approved the 2023 City of More Standards and Specifications for infrastructure development, an item previously tabled.
• Key Changes Approved:
  • Geotechnical reports will now be required for all developments, with an estimated cost of $2,000-$4,000 per section.
  • Recycled asphalt will only be permitted as a base material under concrete streets; virgin asphalt will be required for asphalt streets.
  • The right-of-way width for arterial streets will increase to 130 feet from the current 100 feet. A variance may be granted by the Council to reduce this to 120 feet in some instances. This change means developers will grant the city an additional 32 feet (or 27 feet with variance) of property along arterial roads for future roadway and utility use.

More Police Advancement Center Furnishings

• The Council approved a budgeted purchase of $98,220.25 from Bill Warren Office Products for furnishings for the new More Police Advancement Center (also known as the Impact Center).
• Purpose: This center will serve as a full-scale training facility (including force-on-force and classroom training), a hub for community forums, homeowner association meetings, and a point for social services outreach, particularly engaging with the Highland West, Kelly, and Hauchen school communities. It will also offer shared training space for city partners like the Fire Department.
• Timeline: The Police Department received the full permit today, with construction estimated to be completed in 6-8 weeks. Furniture has an estimated 8-9 week lead time.

Purchase of Real Property for Street Division

• The Council approved the purchase of the former Sun State building located at 2001 North Moore Avenue for the City's Street Division.
• Financials: The purchase price was $875,000, with an additional $26,250 approved for commission to Price Edwards and Company LLC.
• Benefits: This acquisition is expected to save money compared to constructing a new building at the current public works facility, providing a suitable building and additional land.

Opioid Abatement Grant Application

• The Council authorized the City Manager to execute a letter of intent to pursue a grant from the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board. This board is making $23 million available statewide from settlement monies.

Financial Matters 💰

Annual Actuarial Report

• The Council accepted the annual actuarial report from Select Actuarial Services for the fiscal year ended June 30th, 2023.
• The report evaluates the city's risk regarding workers' compensation, health insurance, and general liability.
• Key Findings:
  • Outstanding losses (what the city has left to pay on claims up to June 30, 2023) total just over $2 million. This includes approximately $1.1 million for workers' compensation, $670,000 for health benefits, and $280,000 for liability.
  • The overall reserve number for outstanding losses remains stable compared to the previous year.
  • The loss forecast (projected cost for claims in the current fiscal year) is estimated at just over $7 million. This includes approximately $6.4 million for health benefits (with a 5% decrease in monthly cost per employee), $478,000 for workers' compensation (with a 2% decrease in loss rate), and $120,000 for liability.

Transfer to General Fund Reserve Fund

• The Council approved a transfer of $1.5 million to the General Fund Reserve Fund.
• This transfer is based on excess revenues over expenditures for the 2023 fiscal year.
• This brings the General Fund Reserve to $4.5 million, reaching 37.5% of the city's established goal.

Claims and Expenditures

• City Council: Approved and ratified claims and expenditures for FY 2023-2024 totaling $2,904,456.74.
• More Public Works Authority: Approved and ratified claims and expenditures for FY 2023-2024 totaling $578,145.81.
• More Risk Management: Approved and ratified claims and expenditures for FY 2023-2024 totaling $271,923.90.

Taser 7 Bundle Purchase

• The Council approved payment three of five in the amount of $41,588.82 to Axon Enterprises for a five-year Taser 7 bundle purchase for 60 Taser devices. This annual payment covers updates, maintenance, and replacement of defective units or deployed cartridges.

ACOG Air Quality Small Grant Program

• The Council adopted Resolution number 59-23 authorizing the city to submit an application for an ACOG Air Quality Small Grant.
• The grant would fund a 10-foot wide multi-use trail along Bryant Avenue, with an estimated total cost of $1,169,000. The city's required 20% match contribution would be $233,800.

Public Comments

• No citizens signed up or spoke during the public comments section.
• Councilman Adam Webb expressed appreciation for staff's work on the Woodlawn Drive property condemnation appeal.
• The City Trust Manager noted that the $1.5 million transfer to the General Fund Reserve brings the city 37.5% closer to its reserve goal.

Agenda Summary Table