September 30, 2013 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• Commissioner Commendations: Don Lynch was commended for his outstanding work in securing matching grants for the city.
• Pool Committee Fundraising: Citizens are encouraged to donate to the pool committee to help raise additional funds for the new pool project.
• Mosquito Spraying: The city is actively spraying for mosquitoes by dividing the town into quadrants and spraying each quadrant nightly, rather than solely relying on call-in requests.
• Upcoming Meeting Schedule: Discussion occurred regarding the City Commission meeting scheduled for the week of 📅 September 3rd (Labor Day week). No final decision was made, but options included holding a recycling meeting at 6:30 PM on Tuesday and the Commission meeting on Wednesday, to be finalized upon Brian's return.
• New Staff Introduction: Keenan English was introduced as the new Assistant Airport Manager.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Rezoning Property at 5 Mullins Drive: The Council considered and approved the rezoning of 7.8 acres located at 5 Mullins Drive. The property was rezoned from A1 Agriculture to RE Rural Estate, aligning with staff and Planning Commission recommendations for a less dense residential use than the initially requested R1. The applicant, Gary Mullins, spoke in favor, clarifying plans to subdivide the property into one 3-acre lot with a house and three other lots (two 1.5-acre, one 2.2-acre).
• Rezoning Property at 2400 North Harrison: The Council approved the rezoning of approximately 1.15 acres at 2400 North Harrison from R1 Single Family Residential to C3 Automotive Commercial and Recreation. This property is the last residential lot in a predominantly commercial area, and the change is consistent with the surrounding zoning and the city's comprehensive plan. The applicant's attorney, Roger Henson, stated the intent to sell the property, not immediately develop it.
• Rezoning Property at 300 Block Shawnee Mall Drive: A large 16-acre property (with approximately 14 acres to be rezoned) in the 300 block of Shawnee Mall Drive was approved for rezoning from A1 Agriculture to C3 Automotive Commercial and Recreation. This change facilitates the development of a car dealership and is consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and the intensely commercial surrounding area. Bobby Delottabody, attorney for the applicant, spoke in favor.
• Partnership with YMCA for Kaboom Grant: The Council approved a letter of intent to partner with the YMCA for a Kaboom grant to build a community playground at Lions Club, just north of the YMCA gymnasium. The grant waives the usual $8,500 matching requirement for tornado-affected areas, and the playground will be largely built by community volunteers with minimal city staff involvement.
• Plugging of Two Oil Wells: Applications from Lynn Operating Inc. to plug two non-profitable oil wells located south of Benedict Street, between Highway 177 and the railroad tracks, were approved. City and Corporation Commission inspectors will ensure proper surface cleanup and subsurface plugging.
• 24-inch Sewer Rehab Project: The Shawnee Municipal Authority approved awarding the bid to Urban Contractors for 💰 $468,500 to complete the entire 3,770-foot 24-inch sewer rehabilitation project this year. The bids came in significantly lower than anticipated, allowing the full project to be completed sooner and more cost-effectively.

Financial Matters

• Sales Tax Report (August 2013): The sales tax report for August 2013 showed positive growth, with sales tax revenue up $126,000 (9.46%) compared to the previous year. This increase was attributed partly to the rodeo and ongoing tornado recovery efforts. For the fiscal year-to-date, the city is up $89,000 (3%) over its flat budget. Use tax revenue also saw an increase. Future reports will include the top 10 general fund revenues quarterly.
• Sewer Rehab Project: The 24-inch sewer rehab project was awarded for 💰 $468,500, which was noted as a very favorable price, allowing the city to complete the entire project rather than just half, as originally budgeted.

Public Comments

• Gary Mullins spoke during the public hearing for the rezoning of 5 Mullins Drive, clarifying that he was in favor of the rezoning to Rural Estate (RE) as it would allow him to subdivide the 7.8 acres into lots of at least one acre.
• Roger Henson, attorney for the applicant, spoke during the public hearing for the rezoning of 2400 North Harrison, confirming the property owner's intent to sell the property and that the proposed C3 zoning was consistent with the surrounding commercial area.
• Bobby Delottabody, attorney for the applicant, spoke during the public hearing for the rezoning of the 300 block Shawnee Mall Drive, stating their client's intention to purchase the 16-acre property for a car dealership and that the C3 rezoning was consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and adjacent commercial properties.

Agenda Summary Table