August 1, 2013 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• The Aidas Foundation's grant schedule is set to begin 📅 August 15th. The city is preparing several grant applications for community projects.
• A 911 system visit in Lawton is scheduled for 📅 July 24th.
• The next City Commission meeting, where deferred bids for the Municipal Auditorium restoration and Water Treatment Sludge Removal Project will be considered, is scheduled for 📅 August 5th.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda: The meeting agenda and the consent agenda for the City Commission, Shawnee Municipal Authority, and Shawnee Airport Authority were all ✅ Approved.
• Conditional Use Permit for Manufactured Home: An ordinance with a conditional use permit for property at 31504 West Lake Road (Case P9-113) was ✅ Approved. This allows for the placement of a new manufactured home on the A1 agricultural zoned property, subject to two conditions related to setbacks and the home's similarity to the applicant's indicated model. The permit runs with the property.
• Final Plat for Windridge Edition Section One: The final plat for Phase 1 of Windridge Edition (17 acres, 43 lots) was ✅ Approved. This approval includes seven conditions, notably a requirement for covenants to inform prospective buyers about the property's proximity to agricultural land and potential typical agricultural uses.
• Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund Lump-Sum Payment: A request for a lump-sum payment from the defined benefit plan and a refund of contributions from the defined contribution plan for employee Daryl Freeman was ✅ Approved.
• Support for OML Board Nomination: A resolution supporting the nomination of Mayor Wes Maynard to the OML (Oklahoma Municipal League) Board of Directors District 5 was ✅ Approved. The city will cover associated expenses.
• Motorola Radio Equipment Lease-Purchase Agreement: A resolution authorizing a lease-purchase agreement with Motorola for the replacement and upgrade of the city's radio communication equipment was ✅ Approved. This project includes upgrading existing towers, constructing a new North site repeater, enhancing dispatch consoles, and replacing mobile/portable radios for police and fire departments.
• Jefferson Terrace Waterline Project Bid Award: The bid for the Jefferson Terrace Waterline Project (SMA 14-01) was ✅ Awarded to Orion Construction for $428,900, which was the lowest and best bid, well under the budgeted $1 million.

Financial Matters

• Sales Tax Report: The sales tax report received for July 2013 indicated a 2.62% decrease ($37,000) compared to the previous year. This raised concerns among commissioners, especially given recent storm damage and layoffs at Tinker Air Force Base.
• Discussion on Sales Tax Revenue Capture: Commissioners and staff discussed strategies to better capture sales tax revenue from building materials purchased outside Shawnee but delivered and used within the city limits, particularly in the wake of storm damage. The City Manager was tasked with investigating ways to monitor this more closely.
• Aidas Foundation Grant Opportunities: The City Manager reported on the Aidas Foundation, established from the hospital sale, which has $100 million and must disburse 5% annually. The city is exploring grant applications for several projects, including:
  • Heating and air conditioning for the Shawnee Senior Center auditorium.
  • Sidewalks on Saratoga and recreation improvements around the YMCA and ball fields.
  • A city-wide sidewalk program, potentially a 5-year partnership with the Aidas Foundation.
  • Improvements for Woodland Veterans Park and the city pool.
  • Funding for first aid kits for all law enforcement vehicles in the region ($50,000 project).
• Insurance for Lost Sales Tax Revenue: A commissioner raised concerns about the potential loss of sales tax revenue if a major commercial property, like the mall, were destroyed by a natural disaster, and requested an investigation into purchasing insurance for such an event.

Public Comments

• Commissioner Comments: Commissioners shared positive feedback on a recent "big celebration" (fireworks) and the city's efficient debris pickup efforts following recent storms. They also acknowledged ongoing construction projects as necessary progress.
• Citizen Participation: No citizens came forward to speak during the designated citizen participation period.
• Public Hearing: No members of the public spoke either in favor of or against the conditional use permit for 31504 West Lake Road during its public hearing.

Agenda Summary Table