June 4, 2019 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 The July 1st, 2019 City Commission meeting has been canceled due to its proximity to the Fourth of July holiday.
• The Shawnee Leadership Class of 2019's 5K run, "Hit the Bricks," raised $7,000 for Legacy Parenting and brought awareness to local nonprofits.
• 📅 Shawnee Ford will host a reception for the new Fire Chief on Tuesday, June 11th, at 3:30 PM at their office (231 North Bell).
• Shawnee was recently ranked 29th among the best small cities to start a business by WalletHub.com.

Public Comments

Citizens addressed the Commission on several topics:

• Safe Cycling Routes: Several residents, including Marcus Smith, Brandon Bell, and Heather Todd, advocated for safer cycling routes in Shawnee. They highlighted the importance of safe paths for children, promoting health, and supporting initiatives like the Safe Routes to Schools Master Plan. Danielle Sherman from the Safe Routes to Parks group also spoke, noting Shawnee's existing initiatives like Blue Zones and Complete Streets policy align with safe routes efforts.
• Tornado Warning Robo-calls: Mary Ellen Martin requested the reinstatement of robo-calls for tornado warnings, citing a recent incident where sirens and phone alerts failed to notify her. She argued that the estimated $12,000 cost was a small price for public safety, especially for those without smartphones or who are indoors.
• Shawnee Senior Center: Director Kate Joyce informed the Commission about the Senior Center's efforts to cut costs, rearrange schedules, and secure a $20,000 grant from the Sarkis Foundation for kitchen revitalization. She invited commissioners to ask questions about their revised contract review packet. Several community members, including Steve Palmer, Elysia from Gateway, Brittany (a granddaughter of attendees), Karina Wilson Pickins, and Linda Bird, spoke passionately in support of Kate and her staff. They emphasized the Senior Center's vital role in the community, its flexibility in serving diverse populations (including those in recovery), and the exceptional care provided to seniors. Commissioner comments later clarified that the ongoing discussion regarding the Senior Center was focused on governance and accountability, not budget or programming.
• North Deer Creek Reservoir Water Supply: Dr. Joe Taran, former chairman of the Pottawatomie County Development Authority (PCDA), requested a provision in the new reservoir agreement to guarantee PCDA 100,000 gallons of treated water per day, citing historical agreements and the critical need for water supply to rural districts.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Rodney Foster Approved as Shawnee Fire Chief: The Commission formally approved the interim City Manager's hiring of Rodney Foster as the new Shawnee Fire Chief. Mr. Foster, previously a training battalion chief in Midwest City, was introduced and expressed his excitement to serve the community. ✅ Approved (6-0)
• Shawnee Safe Routes to Schools Master Plan Adopted: The Commission adopted the comprehensive Safe Routes to Schools Master Plan. This plan, developed over 18 months by a local workgroup, outlines strategies across six "E" components (Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation, Equity, and Engineering) to improve safety for students walking and biking to school. Adoption of the plan is crucial for the city to be eligible for significant federal grant funding, with other communities receiving millions for similar initiatives. ✅ Adopted (6-0)
• Rezoning for Commercial Development (Case P0219): An ordinance to rezone approximately 4.29 acres at the northeast corner of North Union Avenue and East 45th Street from A1 rural agricultural to C3 highway commercial for commercial development was approved. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval. ✅ Approved (6-0)
• Rezoning for Commercial Development (Case P0519): An ordinance to rezone approximately 3 acres east of North Union Avenue, north of East 45th Street, and west of North Harrison Avenue from A1 rural agricultural to C3 highway commercial for commercial development was approved. This tract is directly east of the previous rezoning. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval. ✅ Approved (6-0)
• Rezoning for Single-Family Residential Development (Case P0719): An ordinance to rezone approximately 23.85 acres east of North Union Avenue, north of East 45th Street, and west of the AT&SF Railroad from C3 highway commercial to R1 single-family residential for single-family development was approved. This rezones the portion behind the commercial frontage. Staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval. ✅ Approved (6-0)

💰 Financial Matters

• Airport Property Declared Surplus for Sale: A resolution was approved to declare certain items of personal property at the Shawnee Regional Airport as surplus. These items, including old tanks, compressors, and light lenses found during hangar renovations, will be sold at auction or disposed of, with all funds allocated to the Airport. ✅ Approved (6-0)
• Airport Property Lease for Hay Harvesting: The Commission approved the award of a bid to lease Shawnee Airport Authority property for hay harvesting. The winning bid was $2,577 per year for two calendar years, with an option to renew for three additional years. ✅ Approved (6-0)
• Contract for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project Management: A contract with Haines and Russell Consultants for project management services related to the city's new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project was approved. The contract is for $100,000 to manage the $5.38 million project. ✅ Approved (6-0)

Agenda Summary Table