Meeting Summary
Announcements
- 📅 School Starts: Shawnee schools will begin on August 13th. Drivers are reminded to be mindful of children and school zones.
- 📅 Public Meeting on Parks Plan: A public meeting for input on the city's Parks Plan will be held tomorrow night, August 4th, at the City Commissioners. The consultant will present preliminary findings, and public input is encouraged.
- Pot County Historical Society Funding: The Pottawatomie County Historical Society (formerly the Santa Fe Depot Museum) has received a $500,000 matching grant for expansion. The community is encouraged to donate to help meet the matching funds.
- Kapoo Opening: The partially opened section of Kapoo is noted as "really nice," with anticipation for the full opening.
- Pool Attendance: The city pool continues to see high attendance, averaging 500-600 people daily, with "Dollar Day Wednesdays" exceeding 1,100 attendees. Reduced hours will be implemented after school starts, with extended hours planned for Labor Day weekend.
- Boy Scout Park Utilization: Boy Scout Park is being heavily utilized by the community.
Key Decisions & Votes
- Closure of Kimberly Street: The City Commission approved an ordinance to close public access to Kimberly Street, located in Block 1 and Block 2 of the Sac & Fox Edition. This closure facilitates the Sac & Fox Nation Housing Authority's project to construct 23 living units and a community safe room. The Housing Authority's general counsel confirmed that the replat includes provisions for water line easements.
- Mediation for Litigation:
- The City Commission approved a motion to enter into mediation with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) regarding ongoing litigation (Pottawatomie County District Court Case No. CJ-2014-128).
- The Shawnee Municipal Authority approved a motion to enter into mediation with CPN and other parties regarding ongoing litigation (Oklahoma County District Court Case No. CJ-2015-245, involving Pottawatomie Rural Water District #3 and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board).
Financial Matters
- Main Street Streetscape Project Funding: The City Engineer provided an update on the Main Street Streetscape Project, with budget estimates ranging from $2.2 to $2.6 million. Current funding includes approximately $1.8 million in the street fund and a projected $618,000 from the Tiff District. The Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) is expected to cover $433,000 for the water line portion of the project, and an ODOT grant will contribute about $410,000.
- Animal Control Net Gun Donation: The Animal Rescue Center (ARC) of Shawnee donated a net gun, valued at $795, to the Animal Control division. ARC plans to donate two more net guns in the future to equip each animal control truck.
- Pot County Historical Society Grant: The Pottawatomie County Historical Society has received a $500,000 matching grant for expansion, requiring community fundraising efforts.
Public Comments
- Kimberly Street Closure: Casey Bell spoke in favor of the ordinance to close Kimberly Street. He highlighted that the closure is crucial for the Sac & Fox Nation Housing Authority's project, which will add 23 living units and a community safe room, helping to address a waiting list of approximately 100 people for affordable housing.
Agenda Summary Table
| Agenda Item | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Consider approval of the consent agenda (City Commission) | Approval of routine administrative items. | ✅ Approved |
| Citizens participation | Opportunity for citizens to address the commission. | Public comments received |
| Presentation by City Manager to Employee of the Month | Recognition of outstanding city employees. | Presentation |
| Presentation of a net gun donated by Animal Rescue Center (ARC) | Donation of equipment to Animal Control. | Presentation |
| Motion to reconsider an ordinance to close to the public Kimberly Street... | Reconsideration of a previous decision regarding street closure. | ✅ Approved |
| Discussion and consideration of possible action on an ordinance to close to the public Kimberly Street... | Ordinance to close a portion of Kimberly Street for a housing project. | ✅ Approved |
| New business (City Commission) | Introduction of new items for discussion or action. | None |
| Administrative reports (City Engineer - Main Street Streetscape Project) | Update on the Main Street Streetscape Project. | Report given |
| Commissioner's comments | Opportunity for commissioners to share updates or concerns. | Comments given |
| Considering an executive session to discuss potential claims litigation... (City Commission - CPN litigation) | Discussion of legal matters in a closed session. | ✅ Approved (to enter session) |
| Consider matters discussed in executive session regarding potential claims litigation... (City Commission - CPN litigation) | Action following executive session discussion on litigation. | ✅ Motion to enter mediation with CPN approved |
| Consider approval of the consent agenda (Shawnee Airport Authority) | Approval of routine administrative items for the Airport Authority. | ✅ Approved |
| New business (Shawnee Airport Authority) | Introduction of new items for discussion or action for the Airport Authority. | None |
| Consider approval of the consent agenda (Shawnee Municipal Authority) | Approval of routine administrative items for the Municipal Authority. | ✅ Approved |
| New business (Shawnee Municipal Authority) | Introduction of new items for discussion or action for the Municipal Authority. | None |
| Consider an executive session to discuss potential claims litigation... (SMA - CPN/Pottawatomie Rural Water District #3 litigation) | Discussion of legal matters in a closed session for the Municipal Authority. | ✅ Approved (to enter session) |
| Consider matters discussed in executive session regarding potential claims litigation... (SMA - CPN/Pottawatomie Rural Water District #3 litigation) | Action following executive session discussion on litigation for the Municipal Authority. | ✅ Motion to enter mediation with CPN and other parties approved |