October 29, 2025 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• The City Council conference was held on 📅 Tuesday, October 28th, 2025.
• Both the proposed Charter Amendments and the Street Maintenance Bond renewal will be placed on the 📅 April 2026 ballot. This timing allows for sufficient public education and preparation.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Election Date for Charter Amendments and Street Maintenance Bond: The Council provided direction to staff to prepare for an April 2026 election for both the proposed charter amendments and the renewal of the Street Maintenance Bond. This decision prioritizes public education and allows for potential consolidation with other city-wide election items.

Discussion: Potential Charter Amendments

The Council discussed several potential amendments to the City Charter, building on previous retreats and Charter Review Commission recommendations.

• Stipend for Elected Officials:
  • Discussion revisited the 2022 proposal for an annual stipend of $8,100 for the Mayor and $5,400 for Council members.
  • The proposal included establishing a five-member compensation committee to review stipends every three years, based on factors like the Consumer Price Index and the city's budget.
  • Council members discussed presenting the pay as a monthly amount on the ballot to avoid confusion and reviewed comparisons to compensation in other Oklahoma cities (Edmond, Lawton, Moore).
  • The proposed changes would take effect with the next cycle of elections or the next budget year (e.g., July 1, 2027) to address public perception.
• Swearing-in Dates for Elected Officials:
  • Proposed to standardize the swearing-in date for all elected officials to the first Tuesday after the scheduled runoff election.
  • Implementation would be delayed to avoid shortening current terms, with new dates potentially taking effect in 2028 for even-numbered wards, 2029 for odd-numbered wards, and 2031 for the Mayor.
• City Auditor Qualifications:
  • Proposed to add flexibility to the City Auditor's qualifications, allowing for professional certifications beyond CPA, such as Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, or other equivalent professional certifications.
• Tax Increment Financing (TIFs):
  • Discussion explored requiring a supermajority vote of the Council to approve TIFs or an automatic public vote.
  • The City Attorney noted state law limitations on requiring public votes on TIFs outside of the existing initiative and referendum process.
  • Council members expressed interest in exploring policy changes to incorporate citizen committee feedback at the beginning of the TIF project process and ongoing oversight.
  • The possibility of conducting informal public surveys on TIF projects was also discussed.
• Implementation Timeline & AG Approval:
  • Charter amendments, once passed by voters, require certification by the Governor (after review by the Attorney General's office), which can take anywhere from 90 days to almost a year. This timeline impacts when changes can be implemented.
  • The Council decided against reconvening the Charter Review Commission for these specific amendments, as many were previously reviewed.

Discussion: Street Maintenance Bond Election (Spring 2026)

Public Works staff presented details for the renewal of the Street Maintenance Bond program, which has been a cornerstone of the city's infrastructure efforts for two decades.

• Program Overview & Success:
  • The program, initiated in 2005, is a successful five-year bond dedicated to maintaining existing roads, not building new ones.
  • It focuses on local, neighborhood, and rural roads, using a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to prioritize projects.
  • Norman's current average PCI is 77, significantly higher than the national average of 60-65.
  • Previous bond renewals have seen strong voter approval, increasing from 53% in 2005 to 67% in 2021.
  • The program has successfully completed every planned roadway project, touching approximately 300 miles of streets over 20 years.
  • Norman's backlog of roads needing reconstruction is only 2.2%, compared to a typical 10-12% for similar-sized municipalities.
• Proposed 2026-2031 Bond Details:
  • The proposed bond amount is an estimated 💰 $35 million for maintenance activities over five years.
  • This renewal represents no new tax; it continues the existing funding mechanism based on property taxes.
  • Funds are allocated across five categories: urban asphalt, rural asphalt, urban concrete, urban reconstruct, and preventative maintenance.
  • Projects include addressing bicycle safety, ADA ramp repairs, and minor drainage improvements where feasible.
  • A detailed list of specific streets for the program will be available on a GIS map on the city's website, showing locations, ward, and estimated construction year.
• Project Scope & Impact:
  • The program aims to complete approximately 180 lane miles of work.
  • Preventative maintenance efforts will be clustered to maximize efficiency and extend the life of newer roads.
  • Reconstruction projects target the "worst of the worst" roads, strategically spread across the city.
  • The bond ensures the city can continue to maintain infrastructure in new developments, a responsibility many other cities struggle with.
  • Council discussed specific road examples, such as repaving Gray Street to match recent two-way conversions.
  • Private roads in gated communities are not covered by the city's maintenance program.
• Election Timing:
  • Staff expressed a preference for an April 2026 election to allow ample time for public education and preparation, which the Council supported.
  • The bond must be renewed by May 2026 to avoid losing the established funding base.

Agenda Summary Table