January 22, 2016 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• Consent Agenda Item Deferral: Item C, concerning a lease contract, has been deferred to the second City Council meeting in 📅 February due to ongoing contract negotiations.
• Rezoning Request Deferral: The rezoning request for 1500 East Independent Street has been deferred back to the Planning Commission for a re-hearing at their 📅 February 3rd meeting, with a return to City Council on 📅 February 15th.
• Animal Welfare Updates:
  • Animal shelter hours have been extended: Monday through Friday until 6 PM, and Saturdays from 8 AM to noon, starting 📅 this Saturday (or last Saturday).
  • Proposals from local veterinarians for lethal injection euthanasia are due 📅 Friday, January 22nd. The city hopes to transition to this more humane method as early as 📅 February.
• Downtown Streetscape Project: The project officially kicked off today, 📅 January 19th, with street closures on Main Street (Beard to Bell). Citizens are encouraged to continue supporting downtown businesses.
• Wayfinding Initiative: Following the branding presentation, the city plans to roll out new wayfinding signage throughout the community, with a target of mid-year implementation. Feedback on the branding presentation is requested within the next week.
• Fire Station on Bryan: An update on the fire station project is expected at the 📅 February 1st meeting.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was ✅ Approved, with the exception of Item C, which was pulled for separate discussion.
• Employee of the Month: Kefir Hotella, a Lieutenant with the Shawnee Fire Department, was recognized as the January 2016 Employee of the Month for his quick and compassionate actions assisting an injured elderly gentleman off-duty.
• Resolutions of Appreciation:
  • A resolution of appreciation was ✅ Approved for Greg Gibson for over 30 years of loyal service to the City of Shawnee, retiring 📅 January 29th, 2016, having achieved the rank of Sergeant in the Police Department.
  • A resolution of appreciation was ✅ Approved for John Leathers for over 25 years of service to the City of Shawnee.
  • A resolution of appreciation was ✅ Approved for Ken King for over 25 years of service to the City of Shawnee.
• Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund Payment: A lump sum payment for the defined benefit plan for Charles Huff was ✅ Approved.
• Shawnee Auto Mall Final Plat: The final plat for Shawnee Auto Mall (Case S14-15) was ❌ Deferred to the next month's meeting to allow for further review of construction documents.
• Vision Bank Addition Preliminary Plat: The preliminary plat for Vision Bank Addition Section One (4301 North Harrison Street) was ✅ Approved with four conditions. The primary condition requires a Letter of Map Revision from FEMA to address flood plain coverage on the property, which is necessary for final plat approval.
• Rezoning 2202 North Leo Street: An ordinance to rezone property at 2202 North Leo Street from R1 Single Family Residential to R2 Combined Residential District was ✅ Approved. This will allow for the construction of one duplex on the site, consistent with the city's comprehensive plan for development along arterial and collector streets.

Financial Matters

• January Sales Tax Report: The city reported January sales tax collections of over 💰 $1.5 million, marking a $47,000 increase from the previous year. Year-to-date, the city is up 4.66% over last year, and after accounting for the marketplace tax rebate, is hitting its budget targets.

Public Comments

• Citizen Participation: No citizens came forward to speak on non-agenda items during the designated public participation period.
• Public Hearing for 1500 East Independent Street Rezoning: During the discussion for this item, Commissioner Dykes conveyed concerns from a neighborhood association meeting on 📅 January 9th. Residents expressed worries about increased traffic, noise, crime, decreased property values, and potential drainage/environmental impacts. Several letters to this effect have been submitted to the Planning Commission. No members of the public spoke directly during the public hearing.
• Public Hearing for 2202 North Leo Street Rezoning: No members of the public spoke either in favor of or in opposition to this rezoning request.

Visit Shawnee Inc. & Community Branding Presentation

Visit Shawnee Inc. (VSI) provided a six-month update on their operations and activities, highlighting their progress since receiving their contract on 📅 May 1st of last year.

• Operational Setup: VSI successfully established its independent operations, including an address, banking accounts, and phone number, ensuring a seamless transition from its previous affiliation with the Chamber of Commerce.
• Mobile App Launch: A smartphone app for visitors was launched with a soft rollout during the county fair in 📅 September. The app is designed to be easily updated by staff to keep information on events, restaurants, and hotels current and relevant.
• Community Branding Initiative: VSI, in partnership with the city, led a comprehensive branding process. Trip Mro of Ournet Mro presented the new community brand, which aims to create a cohesive identity for Shawnee.
  • Purpose: The brand is a tool to build community pride, enhance economic development, and cultivate the visitor experience, providing a consistent message across the city and its partner organizations.
  • Key Elements: The brand includes classic and contemporary typefaces, a simple and aspirational tagline ("Oklahoma: Great Things on the Horizon"), a logo featuring the Redbud (Oklahoma's state tree and Shawnee's "Redbud City" identity) and a horizon line, and a vibrant color palette.
  • Brand Statement: A narrative was presented, highlighting Shawnee's rich history (Native American tribes, cattle drives, railroads), downtown development, diverse economy, educational institutions, and cultural assets (Expo Center, International Finals Youth Rodeo, Trail Days).
  • Application: Examples were shown for city identity (business cards, divisions like Municipal Authority, Regional Airport), partner organizations (Visit Shawnee Inc., Chamber of Commerce, SF), and local events (Boo on Bell, Christmas parade), all incorporating the new visual elements.
  • Wayfinding: The new brand will inform future wayfinding signage throughout the city, especially along Interstate 40 and in downtown, to guide visitors to attractions and services.
  • Next Steps: The consultant will deliver a style guide and a resource package with digital files to ensure consistent use of the brand across all platforms and vendors.

City Manager Update

The City Manager provided updates on several key initiatives:

• Downtown Streetscape: The project officially began today, 📅 January 19th, with initial street closures.
• Animal Welfare: Extended shelter hours (Mon-Fri until 6 PM, Sat 8 AM-noon) and the pursuit of lethal injection euthanasia via local veterinarian partnerships (proposals due 📅 Jan 22nd, transition hoped for 📅 Feb).
• Wayfinding: The city is excited to integrate the new community brand into a comprehensive wayfinding signage plan, with a budget of $150,000, aiming for a mid-year rollout of new signs.
• Fire Station: An update on the Bryan Street fire station project is anticipated at the 📅 February 1st meeting.

Commissioner's Comments

Commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the positive developments in Shawnee.

• Support Downtown Businesses: Citizens were encouraged to support downtown businesses during the ongoing streetscape construction, emphasizing the importance of these local "mom and pop" establishments.
• Positive City Momentum: Commissioners highlighted a range of positive initiatives, including the new branding and app, ongoing sidewalk and trail construction, the streetscape project, upcoming heat and air for the Municipal Auditorium, a new Pottawatomie County Historical Society building, new downtown businesses, the second year of the municipal pool, and expanding universities.
• Gratitude: Appreciation was extended to city employees, VSI for their work on the branding, and the Boy Scout Troop for leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Agenda Summary Table