February 11, 2015 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 Traffic Commission Meeting: Citizens concerned about traffic issues, such as the Union and MacArthur intersection, are encouraged to attend the Traffic Commission meeting on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM.
• 📅 Boy Scout Park Splash Pad Grant: A decision on a potential $110,000 grant from the tobacco industry, which would further fund the splash pad, is expected by the end of February.
• 📅 Upcoming City Openings: The new Boy Scout Park Splash Pad is targeted to open by mid-May, coinciding with the opening of the primary Aquatics facility. Additionally, the new Dispatch Center and the Bryan Street Trail are also slated to open in May.
• Water Conservation Urged: Due to ongoing drought conditions and Shawnee Lake levels being lower than last year, citizens are strongly encouraged to conserve water. The city is approximately 3-3.5 feet above the Level 1 rationing trigger.
• Vacant Position/Project (VSI): An item related to the "VSI" (likely a vacant position or project) will be on the agenda in two weeks.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Boy Scout Park Splash Pad Development: The Council approved two key actions to move forward with the Boy Scout Park Splash Pad. This includes authorizing advertising for bids for the site construction and ordering the selected water feature apparatus. This was made possible by a $203,000+ matching grant from the Evita's Foundation, with additional funds expected from a potential state grant and the pool committee, significantly reducing the city's direct cost. The early order of equipment is crucial for a target opening by mid-May.
• City Manager Executive Search Firm: The Council approved the recommendation to hire Appian as the executive search firm for the new City Manager. Appian was selected for its all-inclusive pricing ($21,000), presence in Oklahoma, successful track record, and a two-year guarantee to conduct a free re-search if the hired City Manager leaves or is terminated (excluding expenses). The search process will involve input from the committee, commissioners, and community, with a target timeline of 90-120 days.
• Legal Services for Utility Service Area Encroachment: The Shawnee Municipal Authority approved retaining Lester Loving and Davis PC for legal services. This firm will provide advice and representation regarding encroachments into the city's utility service areas by other entities. The cost for these services will be $275/hour for a senior partner and $250/hour or less for the primary attorney. Any legal action, such as filing a lawsuit, will require further approval from the Council.
• Property Purchase Negotiations: Following an executive session, the Council approved entering into negotiations to purchase property up to the maximum amount discussed during the session.

Financial Matters 💰

• Boy Scout Park Splash Pad Funding: The project received a significant boost with a $203,000+ matching grant from the Evita's Foundation. The city is also anticipating a potential $110,000 grant from the tobacco industry and has access to $50,000-$60,000 from the pool committee's remaining fundraising efforts. These contributions could reduce the city's direct expense to as low as $30,000-$40,000. If the tobacco grant is not secured, the remaining funds would come from the city's fund balance.
• City Manager Search Firm Cost: The approved contract with Appian for the executive search firm is for an all-inclusive price of $21,000.
• Legal Services for Utility Encroachment: The approved agreement with Lester Loving and Davis PC for legal services will incur costs of $275/hour for a senior partner and $250/hour or less for the primary attorney.
• Budgeting Discussion: Commissioner Shaw expressed interest in exploring performance-based budgeting for the city, aligning with new strategies discussed at the state level, to better track departmental outcomes and employee development.
• Water Usage for Splash Pad: Concerns were raised regarding the water consumption of the new splash pad, especially in light of drought conditions. Staff will provide estimated water usage figures for the push-button activated system.

Public Comments

• Intersection Safety at Union and MacArthur: Citizen Daryl White addressed the Council to express serious concerns about the intersection of Union and MacArthur. He highlighted the lack of a left-turn signal for northbound traffic on Union attempting to turn left onto MacArthur, describing it as a dangerous and accident-prone area. Council members acknowledged the issue, noting it had been part of previous studies, and encouraged Mr. White to attend the Traffic Commission meeting to further discuss the matter.

Agenda Summary Table