December 10, 2025 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• Ward Three Listen and Learn: Council Member for Ward Three will host a "Listen and Learn" event this 📅 Friday night, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, at the Pink Pig on West Main Street.
• Ward Four Community Events:
  • Oversite Meeting: A meeting will be held on 📅 December 11th at 4:00 PM to discuss shelter updates, short-term rentals, the right to council, and the formation of a homeless coalition in Norman.
  • Second Friday Art Walk: This week will feature the city's Second Friday Art Walk.
  • Opolis Toy Drive: Opolis will host a toy drive during their Christmas karaoke brunch on 📅 Sunday, December 14th, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
  • Food Not Bombs Community Meal: A community meal hosted by the Norman Computer at 916 West Main will take place on 📅 Saturday, December 13th at 1:00 PM.
  • Norman Christmas Dinner: The annual Norman Christmas dinner will be held on 📅 Christmas Day (December 25th) from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Norman High School Commons Cafeteria (111 West Main Street). Santa will distribute toys and gifts. For meal delivery arrangements, contact 405-364-3273 by 📅 December 21st.
• General Holiday Greetings: Council members extended happy holiday wishes to all citizens. The next full council meeting will be in the new year, as the 📅 December 23rd meeting falls during Christmas week.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Resolution Honoring Patty Drinnon: The City Council unanimously adopted ✅ a resolution recognizing and honoring Patty Drinnon for her outstanding contributions to music education, choral composition, and the cultural life of the Norman community. Ms. Drinnon, a distinguished music educator and prolific composer, was celebrated for her decades of service to Norman Public Schools and her Grammy-nominated choral album, "Requiem of Light."
• 2025 City of Norman Human Rights Award to Bria Clark: The City Council unanimously adopted ✅ a resolution awarding the 2025 City of Norman Human Rights Award to former Mayor Bria Clark. She was recognized for her exceptional leadership in promoting human rights and inclusivity, including establishing the Human Rights Commission's inclusive community subcommittee, supporting the first Juneteenth Festival in Oklahoma, hiring the city's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officer, and instituting minority alliance organizations. Her efforts significantly raised Norman's Municipal Equality Index score to a perfect 100.
• 2025 City of Norman Human Rights Group Award to Women in Action for All: The City Council unanimously adopted ✅ a resolution awarding the 2025 City of Norman Human Rights Group Award to Women in Action for All. The group was honored for its mission to address critical community and state issues, including supporting unhoused individuals, education, environmental initiatives, voting rights, and immigration. They were praised for their efforts to build community and support marginalized groups.
• Proclamation of Universal Human Rights Month: The Mayor's proclamation declaring 📅 December 2025 as Universal Human Rights Month in the City of Norman was unanimously acknowledged ✅ by the City Council. The proclamation emphasizes the city's commitment to promoting dignity, equality, and human rights, commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on 📅 December 10th, 1948.
• Discussion on Proposed Substation: Council members engaged in a notable discussion with power company representatives regarding a new substation.
  • The new substation's chain-link fence footprint will be approximately 120 by 80 feet.
  • Concerns were raised about placing the substation at the back of the property using existing transmission line right-of-way. Representatives explained this would require more land acquisition (potentially eminent domain), a longer access road, and additional distribution lines, effectively doubling the required strip length.
  • Regarding water concerns, it was stated that the project would not change the historic grade of water flow and might even improve it due to a gravel pad absorbing and releasing water slower.
  • Alternative locations were considered, but the current site was deemed ideal due to power flow needs and existing infrastructure, limiting practical options to east-west along the transmission line.

Public Comments

• Council Member Feedback on City Policy: The Ward Five Council Member expressed concerns and feedback on several city policy matters:
  • Public Funds for Private Industries: Opposed the use of public money, such as Tax Increment Financing (TIFs), for private industries, arguing it can cannibalize local businesses and lead to money leaving the local economy, which ultimately harms the city.
  • Surveillance Technology: Voiced opposition to "flock cameras" and similar technologies, expressing discomfort with increased surveillance of citizens.
  • Watershed Protection: Advocated for greater consideration of watershed protection in future projects, particularly concerning "forever chemicals," acknowledging that the recent transmission station decision was time-sensitive.

Agenda Summary Table