October 6, 2020 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• Halloweentown Event: The Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center will host Halloweentown on 📅 October 17th (next Saturday) from 2 PM to 6 PM at the Fred Humphreys Pavilion. Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for a community market food drive. Booths are still available for local organizations and businesses.
• Animal Shelter Adoption Event: The animal shelter will hold an adoption event at Lowe's this 📅 Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM.
• COCA Project Update: The bank on Main and Broadway has been placed on the national register. COCA has secured home funds and expects to know about tax credits by 📅 November 11th for a $9.5-$10 million project. This project will include COCA offices, a transportation building, a store for donated items, and 12 new houses in the southeast quadrant of town.

Public Comments

• Mike Little (COCA): Provided an update on the Main and Broadway bank project, highlighting its progress in securing funding and national register status.
• Miriam Bell (United Way of Pottawatomie County): Thanked the city for its support, noting that 20 city employees contribute to the United Way. She highlighted the work of 23 partner agencies in areas like feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, providing medical and legal care, and youth development.
• Aaron Stevens (Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center): Expressed gratitude for community support for recent events, including the successful Paranormal Circus. He also promoted the upcoming Halloweentown event.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Comprehensive Plan Amendment Ordinance: The City Commission considered an ordinance to establish a clear and efficient process for amending the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
  • Notable Discussion: Commissioners debated the voting threshold for amendments. The initial draft proposed a two-thirds majority (5 votes) for approval, while the approval of the entire comprehensive plan only required a simple majority.
  • Decision: The Commission approved the ordinance with two key amendments:
    • The term "city planner" was replaced with "city commission" in section 22-728-2g1, making the City Commission the final decision-maker for amendment applications.
    • The requirement for a two-thirds majority vote for comprehensive plan amendments was changed to a simple majority in section 22-728-2g5.
  • Outcome: The ordinance was ✅ Approved with amendments (6-1).
• Emergency Clause for Comprehensive Plan Ordinance: A separate vote was held to enact the Comprehensive Plan Ordinance immediately.
  • Outcome: The emergency clause was ✅ Approved (6-1).
• Santa Fe Historic Roof Project RFQ Award: The Commission authorized staff to begin negotiations with GH2 Preservation Architects for the design of the Santa Fe Depot's historic roof replacement. Staff recommended GH2 due to their qualifications, local presence, and specialized tools for historic preservation.
  • Outcome: Authorization to negotiate was ✅ Approved (7-0).

Financial Matters 💰

• Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application Fee: The City Commission considered a resolution to establish an administrative fee for filing applications to amend the comprehensive plan.
  • Details: The proposed fee is $370, plus $6 per property owner within a 300-foot radius of the proposed amendment area. This fee covers processing, publication, mailing, and administrative staff time.
  • Notable Discussion: Concerns were raised about the new expense for citizens and the lack of public input on fee setting. Staff clarified that the fee is rationally related to costs, is on the lower end compared to other municipalities, and is necessary as current application fees often result in the city operating at a deficit. Fees are set by resolution for flexibility.
  • Outcome: The resolution establishing the fee was ✅ Approved (5-2).

Agenda Summary Table