April 27, 2012 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 May 2012 has been proclaimed Community Action Month by Mayor Linda Peterson, recognizing the Central Oklahoma Community Action Agency's 48 years of service.
• 📅 An Aviation Campus Open House will be held this Saturday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Aviation Campus, featuring Commander John Herrington, the first Native American to walk in space.
• 📅 A City-Wide Clean Up Day is scheduled for this Saturday at 9:00 AM at Kid's Park. Dumpsters will be available, and citizens are encouraged to participate.
• The Kickapoo Street road construction is on schedule for completion in July.
• A joint meeting with the City to discuss the communication system is scheduled for next Monday at the Expo Center.

Key Decisions & Votes

Rezone Property at 3930 North Kickapoo Street (Case P-06-12)

• The Council ✅ Approved an ordinance to rezone the property at 3930 North Kickapoo Street from R1 (Single Family Residential) to C3 (Automotive Commercial and Recreation) for Seminole Ice House LLC. This item was deferred from the March 19th meeting.

Final Plat for Austin and Austin

• The ✅ Approval of the final plat for Austin and Austin, located in the 3800 block of North Harrison, was granted with four conditions.

Baptist University Authority Student Housing Revenue Note

• A resolution ✅ Approving the sale of a Baptist University Authority Student Housing Revenue Note, Series 2012, was passed. While the resolution allowed for up to $9 million, only $8 million will be borrowed. The city does not guarantee the debt, serving as the public entity beneficiary for tax-exempt status. First United was the low bidder at a 3.23% interest rate for 20-year money.

Ordinance Modifying Billboard Regulations

• The Council ✅ Approved an ordinance modifying Section 3-26 of the Shawnee Municipal Code regarding billboards. This ordinance, deferred from March 19th, includes a 500-foot residential buffer and a 1000-foot spacing requirement between signs. The C3 (Automotive Commercial and Recreation) zoning classification was re-included to allow for more flexibility in billboard placement, particularly south of I-40/177. The annual license requirement was removed due to the good condition of existing billboards and the limited number of new signs expected.

Collective Bargaining Agreement with IAFF Local 1635 (Firefighters Union)

• The Council ✅ Approved the collective bargaining agreement with IAFF Local 1635. An arbitrator found in favor of the city's position on three outstanding issues (emergency leave, days off, and pay plan adjustments). The city's offer, totaling an approximate 3.1% economic package (including a 1.5% COLA, steps, new incentive pay for field training officers, and reinstated uniform allowance), will become the contract.

Shawnee Municipal Authority Minutes

• The minutes from the Shawnee Municipal Authority meeting on April 16, 2012, were ✅ Approved.

Shawnee Airport Authority Minutes

• The minutes from the Shawnee Airport Authority meeting on April 16, 2012, were ✅ Approved.

Financial Matters

Shawnee Economic Development Foundation (SEDF) Annual Report and Funding Request

• Tim BF, Executive Director of SEDF, presented the annual report and requested full funding for the upcoming year. The report highlighted efforts in retail attraction (data gathering, consultant use), primary job creation from existing businesses, and new initiatives in aerospace/aviation attraction leveraging proximity to Tinker Air Force Base and Shawnee Regional Airport. SEDF also noted an increase in project inquiries (40 projects year-to-date compared to 59 in all of 2011) and the need for more housing choices.

RFP for Audit Services

• The Finance Director presented the results of an RFP for audit services, the first in several years. Out of eight requests, five responses were received. CP Professional Group was selected as the new auditor with a bid of 💰 $238,000, representing a $31,000 saving compared to the previous auditor. This change aims to provide a fresh perspective on the city's financial records every five years.

Sales Tax Report

• The April 2012 sales tax report showed positive news, with collections 💰 $6,000 above projections, totaling $1,533,000. This increase was attributed to higher gasoline prices encouraging local spending and reduced driving.

Public Comments

• Billboard Regulations: A citizen spoke during public comments, arguing against restrictive billboard regulations. He emphasized the vital role of billboards for local businesses, especially those south of Parker and Independence Street, citing over 55 vacant commercial buildings. He advocated for more billboards as an affordable advertising tool to boost tax revenue and economic activity.
• Homelessness at the Library: A commissioner raised concerns about homelessness, particularly at the library. Staff confirmed they are actively working on this complex issue, seeking advice from Municipal Code Corporation, and expect to have a proposal within 90 days. The discussion highlighted the need to collaborate with social service agencies and shelters, including the Rescue Mission, which has a grant for renovation and potential for 30 beds, though current zoning is a challenge.
• Tornado Shelters and Warning Devices: Following recent tornadoes, concerns were raised about public shelters and warning systems.
  • The Emergency Management Director reported obtaining a list of old fallout shelters and plans to contact property owners. New state laws providing liability protection for shelter owners were noted.
  • Regarding community warning devices, Shawnee has 21 sirens; 15 are battery-operated, and 6 older ones are being converted from telephone-relay to radio control/battery operation at a cost of $4,000 per unit. The director recommended upgrading all six next year.
  • Siren activation is triggered by National Weather Service warnings, spotter sightings, or credible reports. All sirens activate simultaneously. Citizens were strongly encouraged to purchase weather radios (approx. $30) for in-home alerts, as outdoor sirens are primarily for those outside.

Agenda Summary Table