Meeting Summary
Announcements
- 📅 Christmas Parade: Mark your calendars for the annual Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 5th.
- Shop Local Initiative: Citizens are encouraged to "shop local, buy here, stay here in Shawnee." If local brick-and-mortar options are unavailable, online purchases within Shawnee are preferred to ensure sales tax collection for the city.
Public Comments
- Water Bill Late Fees & Homelessness Concerns: Monty Porter, a long-time resident, expressed concern over the city's water bill late fee policy, specifically a $5 fine in addition to a 10% late charge, and the quick issuance of cut-off notices (within 1-2 days of a bill being late). He argued this disproportionately affects low-income residents. He also relayed a second-hand account of the city allegedly asking a local church to stop feeding the homeless, which he deemed a "moral and ethical issue."
- Opposition to Broadway Bike Lanes/Blue Zone Project: Several residents, including James, Gene Greenfield, and Michelle James, voiced strong opposition to the proposed bike lanes on North Broadway. Their concerns included:
- Significant loss of parking, impacting residents' ability to host family during holidays and affecting local businesses (delivery trucks).
- Questions about the necessity of bike lanes on Broadway compared to other streets with more relevant destinations (schools, grocery stores).
- Uncertainty about the project's status and funding for maintenance (e.g., street sweeper compatibility, paint deterioration).
- A Council member clarified that while the project has been discussed for over two years, nothing is official until approved by the Council, and commissioners are actively seeking compromise.
- Request for Canadian Valley Easement: Sam Nowakowski requested approval for an easement to allow Canadian Valley to run power to his new home on Sleepy Hollow Road, which is complete but lacks electricity.
Financial Matters
- Budget Amendment for CDBG Consolidation Plan: A budget amendment for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund 190 was presented to cover the costs of the 2023-2024 CDBG consolidation plan. The amendment was approved 7-0.
- Monthly Financial Report: The city's financial health remains strong:
- 💰 Sales tax is up 4.71% for the year and 8.64% for the month.
- 💰 Use tax (often from online purchases) shows significant growth, up 58.84% of projections for the year and 35.15% for the month.
- The General Fund has 66% of its budget remaining, and the Estimator Fund has 69% remaining, indicating healthy financial trends with no unexpected expenses.
Key Decisions & Votes
- Consent Agenda: The consent agenda, covering routine administrative items, was approved 7-0.
- Selection of City Bridge Inspectors: The Council approved a resolution to select CED4 (Circuit Engineering District Number 4) as the city's bridge inspectors for a two-year contract under the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) program. This program fully funds the inspection of Shawnee's 37 bridges, including semi-annual inspections for the one critical bridge on Main Street. The resolution was approved 7-0.
- Shawnee Library Flooring Bids: Consideration of bids for the purchase and installation of vinyl tile, carpet, and ceramic tile at the Shawnee Library was deferred to the next Commission meeting (7-0). Staff requested more time to review the bids, particularly regarding an addendum for potential moisture testing requirements.
- Senior Citizen Center Roofing Bids: Consideration of bids for replacing the Senior Citizen Center's roof, which has not been updated since 1985 and has active leaks, was also deferred to the next meeting (7-0). Staff needed to further review bids, especially concerning costs for insulation replacement and raising two skylights.
- 2110 West Independence Street Property Bid: A bid received for the property at 2110 West Independence Street (Track 23) was withdrawn by the bidder. The Council took no action and plans to republish the opportunity to seek more interest.
- Emergency Wastewater Repairs: Approval was granted for emergency wastewater repairs with an estimated cost of $60,000. Due to the emergency nature, the repair did not require a bidding process. The approval passed 7-0.
- Digester Cleaning at Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant: The item concerning digester cleaning at the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant was deferred to a future meeting (7-0) at staff's request.
Agenda Summary Table
| Agenda Item | Description |
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