Meeting Summary
Council Notes: City of Oklahoma City Council Meeting Summary
1. Announcements 📅
- Budget Discussions: Commissioners will meet in April to discuss the budget, followed by public hearings in May and mid-June, with final adoption in June.
- Downtown Shawnee Seminar: A seminar on "Reimagined Shawnee" will be held on 📅 February 26th from 8:30 AM to Noon at 120 North Broadway. It will feature speakers from OU and the state historic preservation office. Lunch will be provided; RSVP is required.
- New Business Openings:
- Hobby Lobby is scheduled to open on 📅 February 27th.
- Aldi is expected to open in 📅 April or May.
- Kickapoo Street Project: The state-managed Kickapoo Street construction project is anticipated to be completed in the Fall.
2. Detailed Sections
Key Decisions & Votes
- Expo Center Funding: The Council approved a $50,000 allocation for critical stall repairs at the Expo Center. This amount will be deducted from next year's capital improvements budget for the Expo. Expo management reported already spending $60,000 on repairs and noted the stalls, purchased in 1990, are in poor condition, affecting event bookings.
- Visit Shawnee Incorporated (VSI) Contract: After extensive discussion regarding contractual language, oversight, and accountability, the Council voted to continue negotiations with VSI. Commissioners Dykstra and Hall were appointed to work with attorneys to finalize the contract, with a goal of resolution by the second meeting in March (📅 March 17th). Concerns were raised about the lack of a tourism director due to the ongoing contract dispute.
- Golden Acres Cottages Rezoning (PO215): The Council approved an ordinance to rezone the Golden Acres Cottages property on West Macarthur Street from R1 (single-family residential) to PUD (planned unit development).
- Golden Acres Cottages Preliminary Plat (SO115): The preliminary plat for the Golden Acres Cottages development was approved with six conditions, including the allowance for two monument signs and the requirement for a six-foot privacy fence and sidewalks. The development will feature 15 dwelling units (duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes), a private drive, a splash pad, and a walk path connecting to an existing development.
- Legal Services Agreement: The Council approved the agreement for legal services with the Love Law Firm at a rate of $140 per hour. Concerns were raised about compensation and the employment of experts, but the City Attorney clarified existing approval processes and budget oversight.
- Citizen Participation Ordinance: An ordinance defining rules for citizen participation at Council meetings was approved with a minor amendment to allow flexibility in the placement of "Commissioner Comments" on the agenda. The ordinance aims to provide clear guidelines for public input, including time limits and restrictions on discussing personal issues or ongoing litigation.
- Real Property Purchase: Following an executive session, the Council authorized the city manager to enter into a contract for the purchase of the office building at 227 North Broadway for $200,000, with closing by 📅 March 3rd.
Financial Matters 💰
- Audited Financial Statements: The Council accepted the unmodified, clean audit report for the city of Shawnee and related authorities for the fiscal year 2013-2014. The report indicated approximately $92.5 million in net position and no findings regarding federal grants.
- Fire Run Fees Discussion: The Council discussed the current $100/hour/apparatus fee for fire calls outside city limits, which has not changed in 20 years. Commissioners expressed interest in potentially increasing these rates, particularly for incidents on I-40 where insurance companies could be billed. Staff was directed to gather comparative data on costs per run and rates from similar-sized cities for various types of calls (fire, medical, auto wrecks).
- Sales Tax Report: The February sales tax collection was $1,580,000, an increase of $11,000 (0.75%) compared to last year. Use tax also saw a $10,000 increase. While sales tax is currently not meeting budget projections, overall city revenue remains on target due to other income streams.
- Emergency Generator Project Bids (SMA-1504): Bids for the Emergency Generator Project at the Public Works building were received, with the lowest bid from Libra Electric Company at $69,690. The bids were deferred to the next meeting for further review.
- Tennessee Lift Station Rehab Bids (SMA-1503): Bids for the rehabilitation of the Tennessee Lift Station were received, with the lowest bid from Slattery Construction at $117,704. The bids were deferred to the next meeting for further review.
Public Comments
- Creative Magic Children's Theater: Jeff and Valerie Hames presented on their children's theater group, Creative Magic, and their move to the Municipal Auditorium. They highlighted their current production of "Beauty and the Beast JR," involving 46 children, and projected over 2,000 attendees. They are fundraising for auditorium improvements (curtains, sound, lighting) and emphasized the economic and educational benefits to Shawnee, without requesting city funds.
- General Citizen Participation: No citizens came forward to speak during the designated public participation period.
- Rezoning Public Hearing: No citizens spoke in favor or opposition during the public hearing for the Golden Acres Cottages rezoning.
3. Agenda Summary Table
| Agenda Item | Description