September 22, 2020 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• Voter Registration Events: Citizens are encouraged to register to vote. Upcoming events include:
  • 📅 Tomorrow (date not specified in transcript, but "this week") at CPN South Reunion Hall (1702 Gordon Cooper Drive) from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Open to the public.
  • 📅 Tomorrow at Calvary Baptist Church (214 West Federal Street) from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Open to the public.
  • 📅 Early Bird Opportunity at George Fisher (off 177 and Leo and Independence) from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM. Open to the public.
  • Online registration is available at okvoterportal.okelections.us (requires printing, signing, and mailing).

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Agenda: The majority of the consent agenda items were ✅ Approved (7-0). Items 2c (Planning Commission minutes) and 2i (Appointments to Urban Renewal Authority) were pulled for individual consideration.
  • Minutes of the Planning Commission (Item 2c): ✅ Approved (6-0, 1 abstention).
  • Appointments to Urban Renewal Authority (Item 2i): ✅ Approved (6-0, 1 abstention).
• Appointment to Community Service Contract Review Committee: Commissioner Rutherford was ✅ Appointed to the committee (6-0, 1 abstention).
• Sales Tax Revenue Note Series 2020 (City Commissioners): A resolution approving the issuance of a $16,875,000 Sales Tax Revenue Note Series 2020 by the Shawnee Municipal Authority was ✅ Approved (7-0). This note, secured at a favorable 1.35% interest rate, will monetize the 2018 sales tax to accelerate projects such as 45th Street improvements, the Parks Master Plan, and renovations for Fire Stations 1 and 3.
• COVID-19 Safety Code (Mask Mandate Extension): An ordinance amending Chapter 15 to extend the City of Shawnee COVID-19 Safety Code (mask mandate) until 📅 November 30, 2020, was ✅ Approved (7-0). The emergency clause for the ordinance was also ✅ Approved (7-0). The ordinance includes exceptions for public and private schools and ADA accommodations.
• Rezoning 1018 West Benedict Street (C1 to C3): The request to rezone property at 1018 West Benedict Street from C1 Neighborhood Commercial to C3 Highway Commercial District was ❌ Denied (6-1). Staff and the Planning Commission recommended denial, citing conflict with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan's designation of the area as low-density residential and concerns about the property's current condition.
• Rezoning 850 North Harrison Avenue (C1 to C3 with CUP for Cellular Tower): The request to rezone property at 850 North Harrison Avenue from C1 Neighborhood Commercial to C3 Highway Commercial District with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a cellular communications tower was ✅ Approved (6-0, 1 abstention). The 110-foot monopole tower aims to enhance cellular data, broadband, Wi-Fi, and FirstNet services in Shawnee. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
• Rezoning 620 West MacArthur Street (C3 to C3 with CUP for Outdoor Gathering Space): This item was ➡️ Deferred to the 📅 October 19, 2020, City Commission meeting (7-0). The applicant, GCR Sunset Enterprises LLC, is developing a detailed site plan and operational guidelines for the proposed outdoor gathering space, which would include food trucks, alcohol sales, pop-up shops, and restrooms made from shipping containers.
• Rezoning 2124 West Benedict Street (A1 to C3 for Medical Marijuana Cultivation): The applicant, Executive Home Rentals LLC, withdrew this application. No action was taken.

Financial Matters

• Sales Tax Revenue Note Series 2020: The City approved the issuance of a 💰 $16,875,000 note at a remarkably low 1.35% interest rate. This strategic move will allow the City to immediately fund significant projects identified in the 2018 sales tax initiative, including improvements to 45th Street, the implementation of the Parks Master Plan, and essential remodeling of Fire Stations 1 and 3.
• Monthly Sales Tax and Budget Report: The City's financial health remains strong. Sales tax revenue for July was up 20.37% compared to the projected budget and 1.78% higher than the previous year. Use tax also saw a positive trend, increasing by 5.03% above budget for the month. The General Fund and Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) are reported as healthy, with revenues meeting expectations and expenditures remaining within anticipated limits.

Public Comments

• Mask Mandate: A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to public comments regarding the mask mandate.
  • Support for Mandate: One citizen shared a deeply personal account of family members suffering from COVID-19, emphasizing the pandemic's severe impact and stating that the issue is a health crisis, not a political one.
  • Opposition to Mandate: Several citizens voiced strong opposition, arguing that masks constitute discrimination (citing ADA concerns for children with disabilities and individuals with asthma), that there is a lack of scientific proof of mask effectiveness (referencing CDC snippets), and that masks create a "false sense of security." Some asserted that the mandate is about "power and control" and questioned its necessity given Shawnee's specific case numbers, comparing COVID-19 deaths to other causes. They also requested clear criteria for when the mandate would be lifted.

Agenda Summary Table