May 6, 2025 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• The Moore City Council meeting was called to order on 📅 May 5th.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Docket Approved ✅
  • Items A through F of the consent docket were approved without discussion.
• Resolution No. 10725 for General Obligation Bonds of 2025 Approved ✅
  • The Council approved the annual draw on general obligation bonds, previously authorized by voters on 📅 November 14th, 2023. This resolution fixes the amount of bonds to mature each year, sets the time and place for sale, and authorizes the clerk to give notice.
• Amendment to Rezoning Application RZ-1049 PUD Design Statement Approved ✅
  • The Council approved an amendment to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) design statement for a property located north of Southwest 34th Street and east of Santa Fe Avenue. The amendment reduces allowed uses to only those permitted under C3 General Commercial District by right, in addition to establishments providing light automotive repair. It also requires six of the ten landscape trees to be placed within the eastern landscape buffer, be evergreen, have an automatic irrigation system, and reach a minimum height of 20 feet at maturity for screening purposes. The applicant confirmed the proposed light automotive repair shop would operate with closed bays (air-conditioned) from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM, closed Sundays, to minimize noise.
• Rezoning Application RZ-1049 Approved ✅
  • Following the approval of its design statement amendment, the Council approved the rezoning of the property from C3 General Commercial District to C3 PUD General Commercial District Planned Unit Development, and approved Ordinance Number 3525.
• Rezoning Application RZ-1050 Approved ✅
  • The Council approved the rezoning of a property located south of Cass Avenue and east of North Shields Boulevard from C5 Automotive and Commercial Recreation District to C5 PUD Automotive and Commercial Recreation District. This approval includes a permissive use for automotive and equipment heavy to allow for an auto body business with a paint booth, and approved Ordinance Number 3625. The applicant confirmed a new paint booth with necessary air filtration would be installed and the building would be fenced for screening.
• Work Order #3 with Garver LLC for Wastewater Treatment Plant Digester Building Design Improvements Approved ✅
  • The Council approved a work order for $199,800 💰 with Garver LLC for design improvements to the wastewater treatment plant digester building. This project aims to address corrosion caused by hydrogen sulfide gas by removing the existing building, installing corrosion-resistant covers over the digesters, and adding odor ducts. The design phase is expected to allow for bidding of this and a related headworks project in late fall, with construction starting next year.
• Declaration of Surplus Equipment and Donation Approved ✅
  • The Council declared thermal imagers and fire hose (exceeding 10-year service life) as surplus and obsolete. These items, each valued at less than $1,000, will be donated to Noble, Slaughterville, Lexington, Little Axe, and Cedar Country Fire Departments.

Financial Matters

• General Obligation Bonds of 2025: Resolution 10725 was approved, pertaining to the annual draw on bonds previously authorized by voters.
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Improvements: Work Order #3 for $199,800 for design services will be paid from MPWA funds.

Public Comments

During the Citizens Forum, several residents voiced concerns:

• City Charter's "Freeholder Clause": Justice Chandler raised concerns that the city charter's "freeholder clause" prevents non-landowners and younger citizens from running for office. Citing Oklahoma Attorney General Getner Drummond, Chandler stated the clause is illegal per US Supreme Court rulings and requested the Council address it via motion or resolution. Mayor Ham committed to having the City Manager and City Attorney review the clause and take appropriate action.

• Worsening Flooding in East Main Street/South Morgan Drive/South Ramblin Oaks Areas:

  • Sharon Sanderson (112 South Morgan Drive) described increasingly severe flooding in her neighborhood since 2015, with water nearly entering her home in a recent storm. She requested city action or reclassification of the area as a flood zone for insurance purposes.
  • Terry Gates (2101 Southeast 38th Street, owner of 104 South Ramblin Oaks) detailed three instances of his property flooding (May 2015, June 2024, April 2025), despite not being in a designated flood zone. He referenced the City's 2017 Stormwater Management Plan, which identified his area (Problem Area 12) as needing a new storm sewer system for a 100-year storm event, noting the current system's inadequacy. He questioned why this "short-term priority" from 2017 remains unaddressed and asked about the impact of new development on flooding.
  • Tona Gates reiterated that Problem Area 12/13 was a short-term priority in the 2017 report and has not been addressed in eight years.
  • John Moser (1500 East Main Street) reported his house flooded with 4 feet of water in 2015 and 1.5 feet recently. He stated that the original design did not account for a 100-year flood and that city efforts to add vents instead of larger pipes were insufficient. He also requested reclassification as a flood zone for insurance, expressing frustration over a decade of inaction.
  • Richard Pierce (1424 East Main Street), whose mother's home flooded, described 1.5 feet of water in the garage, a flooded storm shelter, and 2 inches in the house, damaging the HVAC system. He also highlighted repeated issues with a city sewer manhole backing up with public waste in his backyard during rains.
  • Teresa Moser (1500 East Main Street) added that her daughter's car, parked in the street, was filled with water during the recent flood.
  • John Isem (116 South Morgan Drive) described chest-high water in his backyard and all three family vehicles flooding in the driveway, leading to significant personal losses. He emphasized the serious and scary nature of the recurring floods.
  • Russell Lane (1400 East Main Street) reported his house flooded, with his in-ground cellar flooding three times. He incurred $60,000 in damages in 2015 and faces a $22,000 estimate for recent damage. He questioned why flooding is still severe with less rainfall than in 2015 and also requested flood zone reclassification.

• Mayor's Response to Flooding Concerns: Mayor Ham acknowledged the recent "amazing amount of rain" overwhelmed storm drains. He stated that the City Manager and Assistant City Manager are actively reviewing the stormwater plan and developing cost projections for a multi-million dollar solution. He noted that while a solution will take time and involve city-wide funding, they are looking into flood zones, expanding drainage systems, and detention ponds. He encouraged residents to continue communicating with their council representatives.

Agenda Summary Table