May 21, 2019 City Commission Meeting

Public Comments

Citizens addressed the council regarding the Shawnee Senior Center:

• Kate Joyce, Executive Director, Shawnee Senior Center, thanked Commissioner Bolt for attending a recent meeting and stated that the Senior Citizens of Shawnee Inc. (contracted managers) are preparing a counter-proposal for their contract review. She emphasized the center's award-winning status, fiscal responsibility, and vital services (saving lives, providing resources, meals). Ms. Joyce invited commissioners to visit and expressed a desire to work with the city to grow together, mentioning the center's contributions to maintenance and potential for shared space and classes.
• Nell Rita Pate, a long-time Shawnee resident, passionately requested the council to maintain the Senior Center as it is. She highlighted its importance to seniors for activities, assistance, and companionship, urging commissioners to visit and understand its value to the community.
• Daniel Shaughnessy thanked the commissioners for their service and praised the Senior Center's board and staff, particularly Executive Director Kate Joyce, for their dedication and for making the center one of Oklahoma's best. He noted the center's staff "more than double the city's current contractual dollar investment" and requested Kate to clearly communicate her willingness to improve, and for commissioners to experience the center firsthand.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Donation of Surplus Police Vehicle: The council approved a resolution to declare a 2003 Ford Expedition police vehicle surplus property and authorized its donation to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office, where it will be used as a backup vehicle.
• Clean Water SRF Promissory Note Approval: The City Commission approved a resolution acknowledging and approving the Shawnee Municipal Authority's action to authorize the issuance, sale, and delivery of its Clean Water SRF Promissory Note to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB). This secures a loan for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project.
• Flagpole Ordinance Amendment: An ordinance relating to flagpoles was approved, amending Article 7, Section 8 of general use restrictions. This change allows for the display of larger American flags (solely United States of America flags) at suitable commercial locations. Flagpole heights are limited to 90 feet, with flag size dictating pole height, and a general limit of 70 feet unless justified exceptions are approved by city staff.
• Shawnee Municipal Authority Clean Water SRF Loan: The Shawnee Municipal Authority approved and authorized a Clean Water SRF loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project.
• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project Bid Award: The Shawnee Municipal Authority approved the staff's recommendation to award the contract for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) CWS RF Project to Core Maine for $4,745,237.65. This includes the base bid with alternates one and three, which covers the hiring of a project manager for complex software integration and remote meter capabilities.

Financial Matters 💰

• Clean Water SRF Loan Details: The loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project is for a total aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,745,000. The final loan amount is expected to be $5,380,000 with an interest rate of 1.93%. The first payment is due a year after construction concludes. This project is anticipated to bring substantial savings by identifying leaks and reducing water loss.
• May 2019 Sales Tax and Treasurer's Report:
  • Total sales and use taxes collected for May 2019: $2,027,911.52.
  • Overall sales tax budget is up 1.99% over projected.
  • Use tax is up 16.52% for the year.

Agenda Summary Table