February 19, 2014 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• The City Council has begun using an electronic voting system for the first time, asking for patience as Commissioners adapt to the new process. Votes will be posted publicly.
• 📅 Fourth of July Celebration: Planning is underway for this year's event, likely to be held a week before July 4th again to avoid conflicts with other local activities. The City Manager has committed to a matching grant for funds raised by the Glory Day staff, aiming for 10% more than last year's $220,000.
• New High School Discussions: The Mayor and City Manager are working with the Chamber of Education committee and the school board on plans for a new high school, with more details to be presented to the commission later.
• Sears Closure: Sears will be closing its location in the mall. City management is meeting with mall management to discuss potential new tenants for the 68,000 sq ft retail space.
• Vibe Communications / BCI Broadband: It was clarified that Vibe Communications is the new branding for BCI Broadband, which is expanding its services in the community.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Rezoning of Property at 3720 North Brian: The Council considered and approved an ordinance to rezone approximately six acres at 3720 North Brian from A1 (Agricultural) to R1 (Single-Family Residential). This change will facilitate the creation of one additional single-family residential lot, with the potential for future development to be reviewed through a plat process. The Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval, and no public opposition was received.
• Cemeteries Ordinance Amendment (Chapter 10): The Council approved an ordinance repealing and amending Chapter 10 of the municipal code regarding cemeteries. This amendment removes specific regulations (like marker sizes and costs) from the ordinance, allowing them to be set by resolution. This provides greater flexibility for staff to respond to changes and problems. An emergency declaration for this ordinance was also approved.
• Cemetery Rules and Regulations Resolution: Following the ordinance amendment, the Council adopted a resolution establishing new rules and regulations for the operation of the city cemetery.
• Emergency Management Ordinance Amendment (Chapter 11): The Council approved an ordinance repealing and amending Chapter 11 of the municipal code concerning Emergency Management. This comprehensive update clarifies succession, incorporates state statute language, defines prohibited acts during emergencies (e.g., violating curfew, price gouging), and establishes an Emergency Management Advisory Committee. It also authorizes the City Manager to pursue civil remedies for price gouging and outlines emergency purchasing policies to maximize FEMA reimbursements. An emergency declaration for this ordinance was also approved.
• Police Firing Range Tower Project Bids: The Council rejected all bids for the Police Firing Range Tower project. Staff recommended rebidding the project to attract more contractors, citing timing elements as a possible reason for limited initial bids.
• City Hall ADA Family Restroom Project: The Council awarded the bid for the City Hall ADA Family Restroom project to Oklahoma Construction LLC for $31,984.92. This bid came in under the budgeted amount of $33,000.

Financial Matters 💰

• Sales Tax Report (January 2014): Sales tax collections for January were up by $86,051 compared to the previous year, totaling $1,556,616. Since the beginning of the fiscal year, sales tax revenue is up $528,000 over the original budget. Staff will provide a breakdown by market sector in the next meeting to identify where these increases are originating.
• Fourth of July Event Funding: The City Manager committed to a matching grant for funds raised for the Fourth of July celebration, aiming to match 10% more than last year's $220,000.
• Pension Choice Numbers: The City Manager reported that updated numbers regarding pension choice for budgeting purposes are expected soon, after an initial actuarial report contained errors.
• City Hall ADA Family Restroom Project: The awarded bid of $31,984.92 was under the $33,000 budget.

Public Comments

• No public comments were received during the meeting.

Agenda Summary Table