Meeting Summary
Announcements
- City Election Information: Informational brochures detailing the upcoming 📅 February 14th election, including factual information, fiscal impacts, and project renderings, have been distributed via utility bills and local newspapers. The city website also contains comprehensive details.
- Kickapoo Tribe Annexation: Consideration of the ordinance annexing property for the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma has been deferred to the next meeting (in two weeks) to allow staff and tribal attorneys to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding.
- Harrison Street Planter Project: Bids for the Harrison Street Planter Project (COSPW-11-06) were rejected and returned unopened due to a scheduling "snafu" and pending official approval from ODOT. The project will be rebid, and contractors who previously purchased plans will not be charged again.
- Firefighter Grant Opportunity: The Fire Department intends to pursue a "Safer" (Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response) FEMA grant to hire additional firefighters. A request for permission to apply is expected at the next meeting, with a deadline of 📅 February 24th.
Key Decisions & Votes
- Agenda Approval: The agenda was approved with the deferral of Items 14 and 16 to the next meeting.
- Consent Agenda (City Commission): Items 2A through 2G were approved.
- Engineer/Architect RFQs: The request for qualifications (RFQs) to hire an engineer/architect to assess building conditions and develop specifications for water drainage was approved.
- Kickapoo Tribe Annexation Ordinance: The public hearing was closed, and consideration of the ordinance was deferred to the next meeting to allow for the finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding.
- Conditional Use Permit (Lance & Destiny Walker): A conditional use permit for property at 16209 C Patterson Road was approved with two conditions: the home must meet all required setbacks, and it must be substantially similar to or newer/better than the 1995 unit photograph provided.
- Greystone Edition Plats: The preliminary and final plats for the Greystone Edition, located north of Highland Street and east of Cleveland Street, were approved with four staff-listed conditions.
- Austin and Austin Preliminary Plat: The preliminary plat for property in the 3800 block of North Harrison Street was approved with three conditions, including that the proposed private street be built to city standards and infrastructure plans be approved by the city engineer.
- T&B Community Center Fire Suppression System: The bid for the fire suppression system was awarded to Express Fire Protection for $48,700.
- City Manager Evaluation: An executive session was held to discuss the City Manager's evaluation. No action was taken, and the discussion was postponed until all commissioners could be present.
- Shawnee Municipal Authority Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was approved.
- Shawnee Airport Authority Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was approved.
Financial Matters 💰
- Audited Financial Statements FY 2010-2011: Carolyn Levings from ID Bailey presented the audit report.
- The city received an unqualified (clean) opinion.
- Total net assets for the city increased by $7.2 million.
- Governmental funds increased by $223,000, and enterprise funds (municipal and airport authorities) increased by $5 million.
- There were no material weaknesses noted this year (down from two in the prior year).
- One significant deficiency was noted in controls over capital assets, a repeat finding but with improvements.
- Four major federal programs were audited, resulting in three current year findings related to CDBG program revenue, revolving loan fund support, and airport grant reporting, which management is actively addressing.
- Discussion included the city's pension plan (80% funded, considered "pretty good" compared to state averages) and how uncompensated absences and workers' compensation liabilities are accounted for (100% earmarked in internal financials and annually budgeted, respectively).
- Shawnee Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) Annual Report and Budget: Gordon Rowell presented the CVB's performance and budget.
- Hotel occupancy is up 4% (to 63.8%), Average Daily Rate (ADR) is up 5%, and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) is up 9%.
- The CVB spent approximately $27,000 in direct event support in 2011, with $38,000 budgeted for 2012.
- The RV rally market has seen significant growth, with rallies tripling and yielding a 1:7 direct revenue return (1:15 over three years) on investment.
- Plans for a new visitor center are progressing, with the land nearly paid off. Construction plans and funding strategies are expected to be rolled out by the end of 2012, with an estimated building cost of around $4 million (including a large parking lot).
Public Comments
- Richard Finley (CPA): Raised concerns about the financial projections for the Shawnee Regional Sports Complex. He questioned assumptions in the report, such as 100% of gasoline purchases and hotel stays occurring in Shawnee. Using the city's own data, he calculated an annual cash deficit of $1.36 million to $1.427 million, contrasting sharply with the projected $4 million economic impact (which he estimated would generate only $120,000 in sales tax). He challenged the commission to explain where the additional funding would come from.
- Jack Barrett: Expressed support for the family activities park bond issues, believing they would ultimately benefit the city and pay for themselves. He also addressed the recent removal of stop signs at Elm and Bradley Street, which he had requested in 2006 due to excessive speeding. He highlighted the safety concerns for residents and asked the commission to reconsider the decision.
- Herschel Ring: Voiced strong disapproval of Police Chief Russell France, citing court transcripts that allegedly prove two Shawnee police officers (Casey Vague and James Wood) filed "fraudulent deceiving police reports." He questioned why these officers remain on duty and suggested a potential conflict of interest involving Council Member Pam Stevens. Mr. Ring also criticized the city for not replacing a handicapped vehicle for a disabled officer and called for the removal of the police chief and city manager, advocating for new leadership.
Agenda Summary Table
| Agenda Item | Description