August 27, 2025 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• Neighbors Night Out 2025 is proclaimed for 📅 September 9th, 2025. Over 90 neighborhoods have already signed up, and there's still time to participate.
• The "Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk" by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will be held on 📅 September 6th on Mickey Mantle Drive.
• The Down Syndrome Festival and 5K by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma is scheduled for 📅 September 27th on Sheridan.
• Ordinances related to Drainage and Flood Control (updating FEMA map dates) and Waterfowl Hunting (aligning with state regulations) were introduced and set for final hearing on 📅 September 9th.
• Ward 2 Bond Meetup: Residents are invited to learn about proposed bond projects on 📅 Thursday, September 11th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center at Oklahoma City University.
• Ward 3 Town Hall: A town hall covering bond projects will be held on 📅 September 25th at 5:30 p.m.
• Ward 7 Town Hall: A town hall discussing the geo bond, Olympics, and public safety partnership update will take place on 📅 September 4th at 6:00 p.m. at the Alpha Community Center in Garden Oaks.
• Mayor Holt thanked Southwest Airlines for resuming direct non-stop flights from Oklahoma City to Dallas Love Field.

Key Decisions & Votes

• New Municipal Judges Sworn In: Gunnar Brisco and Paula K. Floyd were officially sworn in as Municipal Judges for Oklahoma City.
• Councilman Travel Expenses Approved: A resolution approving travel expenses for Councilman Pennington to attend the Urban Land Institute Oklahoma Exchange trip to Atlanta in September was ✅ Approved (8-1).
• Teacher of the Month Recognized: Fisel Madden, a PE and Health teacher at Wheeler Middle School, was recognized as the August 2025 Teacher of the Month. The resolution was ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Employee of the Month Recognized: Jacob Webb, Parks and Grounds Superintendent, was recognized as the August 2025 Employee of the Month. The resolution was ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Dilapidated/Abandoned Structures Stricken: Two items concerning dilapidated and abandoned structures at 1316 Northeast 7th Street were ❌ Stricken from the agenda to allow for renotification of the owner.
• Revocable Permits Approved: Permits for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's "Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk" and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma's "Down Syndrome Festival and 5K" were both ✅ Approved unanimously.
• OCMFA and OCPA Items Approved: All items on the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority (OCMFA) and Public Property Authority (OCPA) dockets were ✅ Approved unanimously. This included a contract with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office to house city prisoners in the Cleveland County jail facility.
• Consent Docket Item BG Approved: A specific item pulled from the consent docket for a separate vote was ✅ Approved (7-2). The remainder of the consent docket was ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Concurrence Docket Approved: All items on the concurrence docket were ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Ordinances Introduced: Ordinances to amend the code relating to drainage and flood control (updating FEMA map dates) and waterfowl hunting (aligning with state regulations) were ✅ Introduced unanimously and set for final hearing on September 9th.
• Dilapidated, Unsecured, and Abandoned Structures Resolutions: Resolutions declaring various structures dilapidated, unsecured, and abandoned were all ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Workers Compensation Claim Settlement: A joint resolution with the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority approving the settlement of a workers' compensation subrogation claim on behalf of Bernard Cooks was ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Confession of Judgment: A resolution authorizing the municipal council to confess judgment without admitting liability in the case of Allen v. City of OKC was ✅ Approved unanimously.
• Claims Recommended for Denial/Approval: Claims recommended for denial and a claim recommended for approval were all ✅ Approved unanimously.

Financial Matters 💰

• Sales and Use Tax Report: The City Manager reported a 12% growth in sales tax for the month, reflecting the impact of the NBA finals and utilities. Use tax was down 4.5%. Combined, sales and use tax showed a 6.5% growth, putting the city approximately $900,000 ahead of target to start the fiscal year.
• ACOG Return on Investment: Ward 5 Councilman reported that for every dollar the city spent with ACOG (Association of Central Oklahoma Governments), the city received $40.10 in return.

Public Comments

• Michael Washington spoke during the OCMFA session and again during the consent docket, expressing concern about a contract to house prisoners. He urged the council not to approve the measure, stating that inmates who allegedly committed crimes in Cleveland County should remain there, and voiced opposition to bringing Cleveland County prisoners to Oklahoma County Detention Center, citing concerns about overcrowding and conditions in the "House of Horror" (Oklahoma County Detention Center). He also expressed concern about additional costs to Oklahoma City taxpayers.
• Billy Lewis, Chairman of the Downtown BID Board, spoke in favor of the downtown Business Improvement District (BID) assessment. He thanked the mayor, city council, and staff for their support, highlighting the BID's role in providing additional services like marketing, events, and the "Green Team" for cleanup, which contributes to downtown's reputation for cleanliness and safety. He noted the unanimous support from the 23-member BID board for the assessment.
• Ronnie Kirk addressed the council during the "Citizens to be Heard" section, raising concerns about gun violence in the city, citing recent incidents involving a 4-year-old, a 17-year-old, and an adult. He urged the council to advocate for the repeal of gun laws with state senators to make the city safer for residents. He also briefly mentioned license plate readers, expressing concern about data sharing between cities.

Agenda Summary Table