January 17, 2017 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 January 17: Formal consideration for the North Rock Creek School annexation request will take place.
• 📅 January 17: An update on sales tax figures, including holiday shopping season impacts, will be provided.
• 📅 January 17: The negotiated contract for the Parks Design consultant will be presented to the Council.
• 📅 February or March: The Parks Design consultant is expected to be on board, aligning with the Blue Zones initiative schedule.
• 📅 January 2017: A planning session for the city is scheduled.
• 📅 February 3rd, 3 PM - 6 PM: A blood drive will be held at the Masonic Lodge.

Key Decisions & Votes

Rezoning Property on Harrison Street (Case P-11-16)

The Council considered a public hearing and an ordinance to rezone a 2.57-acre city-owned property on the east side of Harrison Street, north of Transportation Parkway. The rezoning changes the classification from Planned Unit Development (PUD) to C3 Highway Commercial District. Staff recommended approval, noting it aligns with the comprehensive plan and does not alter permitted uses.

• Outcome: The ordinance was ✅ Approved by a 6-0 vote.

Amending Animal Control Code (Chapter Five)

An ordinance was considered to update Chapter Five (Animals) of the Shawnee Municipal Code. Key changes include:

• Removing the mandatory requirement for courts to consider euthanasia for vicious animals, replacing it with a case-by-case discretionary choice.
• Extending the validity of individual rabies certificates to match the effective lifespan of the particular rabies dose.
• Replacing specific dollar fee amounts throughout the chapter with a reference to a consolidated city fee schedule, which will be presented in January. Concerns were raised by one Commissioner regarding the "not less than 48 hours" language for impounded animals (clarified as a minimum), the definition of a "competent person" for animal control, and staffing capacity for a new vaccination and tag program. Despite these concerns, staff recommended approval with an emergency clause for immediate effect.
• Outcome: The ordinance was ✅ Approved by a 5-1 vote. The ✅ Emergency Clause also passed 5-1, making the changes immediately enforceable.

North Rock Creek School Annexation Request

The Council considered a request from the North Rock Creek School District to annex 75.6 acres of land into the City of Shawnee. This annexation is intended to facilitate the future construction of a high school. Tonight's action authorized staff to proceed with the necessary notice and hearing requirements. The formal annexation will be considered at a later meeting.

• Outcome: Staff was ✅ Authorized to proceed with notice and hearing requirements by a 5-1 vote.

Parks Design Consultant Contract Negotiation

The Council revisited the award for parks design services and authorized staff to negotiate a contract with CLS and Associates. This negotiation will incorporate feedback from beautification committees, integrate the upcoming Blue Zones initiative, and explore a downtown trail connection from Woodland Park to Main Street. The negotiated contract will be presented to the Council in January.

• Outcome: Staff was ✅ Authorized to negotiate contract with CLS and Associates by a 6-0 vote.

Shawnee Airport Authority Consent Agenda

The Airport Authority approved its consent agenda, which typically includes routine administrative items.

• Outcome: The consent agenda was ✅ Approved by a 6-0 vote.

Shawnee Municipal Authority Equipment Bid

The Municipal Authority considered and approved a bid for new equipment.

• Outcome: A bid to award a 6-inch trailer-mounted pump to Normco Energy Products for $38,664.22 was ✅ Approved by a 6-0 vote. This expenditure was within the allocated budget of $70,000, and Normco is a local company.

Executive Session Regarding Litigation

The Council entered an executive session to discuss potential claims litigation concerning a case in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (Case CIB 15 805 F). Following the executive session, the Council took action.

• Outcome: The City Attorney was ✅ Authorized to negotiate and settle attorneys' fees claim, with authority granted by the Commission, subject to a maximum undisclosed amount to protect the negotiation process. This motion passed 6-0.

Financial Matters

Sales Tax Report December 2016 💰

The Council acknowledged the sales tax report for December 2016.

• December Sales Tax: Down 6.73%, representing a decrease of $111,000 compared to the previous year.
• Year-to-Date: Overall, sales tax is down 1.51% or $136,000.
• Outlook: While December saw a decline, the city's performance is considered "fortunate" compared to other communities experiencing 10-12% drops. Staff is hopeful for improved numbers from the holiday shopping season and will provide an update in January.

Public Comments

• Rezoning Public Hearing: During the public hearing for the rezoning of property on Harrison Street (Item 6), no one came forward to speak against the proposal.

Agenda Summary Table