October 22, 2012 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 Family Promise Week: Mayor West Maynard proclaimed October 14th through 20th, 2012, as Family Promise Week in Shawnee, recognizing the organization's efforts to help homeless families with children regain self-sufficiency.
• 📅 No Texting While Driving Day: Mayor Maynard proclaimed Tuesday, October 16th, 2012, as No Texting While Driving Day, emphasizing the dangers of distracted driving and encouraging citizens to prioritize road safety.
• Employee of the Month: Lisa Lass, Deputy City Clerk, was recognized as the Employee of the Month for her outstanding work, including ensuring the timely distribution of the agenda.
• City Attorney Update: Jim Pinkus is filling in for City Attorney Maryanne, who is currently unwell.
• ISO Fire Rating Improvement: Fire Chief Short announced a significant improvement in Shawnee's ISO fire rating, moving from 4/9 to 3/9. This means a Class 3 rating for properties within the city proper and a Class 9 for properties more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant or 5 miles from a fire station. This improvement, a result of collaborative efforts by the Fire, Water, and Dispatch departments, places Shawnee among the top 7 communities in Oklahoma (out of 1549) and is expected to reduce insurance rates for homeowners and businesses. Citizens are encouraged to contact their insurance providers. Residents are also reminded not to paint fire hydrants or plant obstructions around them.
• Community News: The passing of Drew Finley, founder of Finley & Cook, was noted. Prayers were requested for City Attorney Maryanne.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Rezoning at 400 West MacArthur (P14-12): The council approved the request to rezone property from C1 Neighborhood Commercial to C3 Automotive Commercial and Recreation. This change will facilitate the relocation and redevelopment of a Boomerang restaurant.
• Rezoning at 8331 North Harrison (P15-12): The request to rezone property from A1 Agriculture to I2 Light Industrial was approved. This will allow for the initial development of storage units and future light industrial projects.
• Preliminary Plat for 8331 North Harrison: The preliminary plat for the newly rezoned I2 Light Industrial property was approved, subject to conditions addressing flood plain areas and future development phases.
• Rezoning at 3300 North Union (P16-12): The request to rezone property from R1 Residential Single Family to R3 Multiple Family was deferred to the November commission meeting at the applicant's request.
• Rezoning at 906 East Independence (P17-12): The council approved the request to rezone property from C1 Neighborhood Commercial to C3 Automotive Commercial and Recreation, enabling the expansion of the existing O'Reilly Auto Parts store.
• Final Plat for Shawnee Medical Center (S12-12): Approval of the final plat was deferred to the November Planning Commission meeting at the applicant's request.
• Preliminary Plat for Belmont Park Edition (S13-12): The preliminary plat for the development of 25 townhome-style multi-family units was approved. Conditions include requirements for sidewalks along Acme Road and a right-of-way dedication for future road widening.
• Final Plat for Belmont Park Edition (S14-12): The final plat for the Belmont Park Edition was approved.
• Resolution in Support of State Question 764: A resolution supporting the passage of State Question 764, which aims to expand access to state revolving loan funds for municipal water and sewer systems, was approved. This measure is vital for financing water infrastructure projects at low-interest rates.
• City Hall Phone System Replacement: The decision on bids for a new City Hall phone system was deferred to the second meeting in January to allow for comprehensive review, reference checks, and further vendor discussions.
• SMA - THM Analyzer Bid: The Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) approved awarding the bid for a THM analyzer to Parker Hanahan Corporation for $33,760.
• SMA - Screw Pump Replacement: The SMA approved awarding the screw pump replacement project at the North Side plant to Win Construction for $233,000.
• Executive Session: No action was taken on matters discussed regarding potential claims/litigation concerning utility service area encroachment.

Financial Matters 💰

• Sales Tax Report: The October 2012 sales tax report indicated a positive increase of $76,733 (5.86%) compared to the previous year, with total receipts nearing $1.4 million. An additional $30,000 is anticipated from the tax-free weekend. Despite this monthly gain, the cumulative fiscal year sales tax remains down by approximately 1%, though overall revenues are currently above projected targets.
• THM Analyzer: The approved bid of $33,760 for the THM analyzer was under the budgeted amount of $38,000.
• Screw Pump Replacement: The approved bid of $233,000 for the screw pump replacement was under the budgeted amount of $250,000.
• State Question 764 Impact: The City Manager noted that Shawnee has historically saved approximately $2 million in interest by utilizing low-interest state revolving loan funds for water and sewer projects, underscoring the financial benefit of State Question 764.

Public Comments

• General Citizen Participation: No citizens came forward to speak during the designated public participation segment.
• Family Promise Week Proclamation: Peggy Johnson, representing Family Promise of Shawnee, expressed gratitude for the proclamation. She highlighted the program's mission to provide a "hand up, not a handout" to homeless families with children, supported by a strong volunteer network.
• Rezoning 8331 North Harrison: Melissa Maffy, a property owner, spoke in favor of the rezoning, confirming the intent to develop storage units and explore other light industrial uses.
• Other Public Hearings: No citizens spoke in favor or opposition during the public hearings for rezoning at 400 West MacArthur and 906 East Independence.

Agenda Summary Table