September 23, 2011 City Commission Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 Constitution Week Proclaimed: Mayor Linda Peterson proclaimed September 17-23, 2011, as Constitution Week, recognizing the 224th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution's framing.
• 📅 Halloween Trick-or-Treat Date: The city's official trick-or-treat night will be on Monday, October 31st, the actual day of Halloween. This is distinct from the "Boo on Bell" event, which is typically held on a Saturday.
• 📅 Upcoming Expo Parking Lot Project: Staff anticipates requesting authorization to advertise bids for the Expo parking lot project on October 17th. A pre-bid meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 8th, with bid opening on November 21st. The project is a 150-day contract, aiming for completion by May 10, 2012.
• 📅 Joint Meeting Proposed: A joint meeting with the Expo Board and County Commissioners is being explored for September 26th or October 10th to discuss funding options for capital improvement projects, including the Expo parking lot and RV facilities.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Agenda Approval: The meeting agenda was ✅ Approved.
• Consent Agenda Approval: The consent agenda was ✅ Approved, following a brief discussion regarding the official Halloween trick-or-treat date.
• North Rock Creek School Annexation: The request for annexation by North Rock Creek School for a new middle school and gymnasium was ✅ Approved, authorizing staff to proceed with notice and hearing requirements.
• Shawnee Transfer Station Improvements: Acceptance of public improvements for the Shawnee Transfer Station plat and placing the maintenance bond into effect was ✅ Approved.
• IAFF Local 206 Contract: A contract with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 206 for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 was ✅ Approved. Key changes include:
  • Restoration of step increases on employee anniversary dates.
  • A 3% across-the-board Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
  • Expansion of incentive pay eligibility to include Career Tech fire service training, not just OSU.
  • Clarification on maximum accrual of holiday leave.
  • New restrictions on "trade time" for firefighters, limiting subbing to same or one rank above/below, and setting a 240-hour limit per employee.
• Refurbished Screw Pumps Bids: Consideration of bids for refurbishing screw pumps at the North Side Wastewater Plant was ❌ Deferred to the next meeting to allow staff to review proposals.
• Lake Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Awarding of the contract for the Lake Road Bridge Rehabilitation project was ❌ Deferred for two more weeks. Staff needs to re-evaluate bid items for potential eliminations to reduce costs and confirm the low bidder's willingness to proceed with a change order.
• Runway 17-35 Rehabilitation Project: Awarding of the contract for the Runway 17-35 rehabilitation and taxiway construction project was ❌ Deferred to the next meeting. The FAA grant application has been signed and executed, making the project ready for award.

Financial Matters

• 💰 Sales Tax Report (September 2011): Sales tax revenue for the past month was down by approximately $60,000 (4.27%) compared to the previous year, totaling $1,330,420. Year-to-date, sales tax is down 2.4% compared to the budget. However, other revenues, such as OG&E collections due to the hot summer, have exceeded budget, keeping overall city revenues on target for the first quarter (25% of budget).
• Delinquent Sales Tax: Staff reported challenges in identifying and collecting delinquent sales taxes due to business naming conventions and limited resources. New tools and information sharing from the Oklahoma Tax Commission are anticipated to improve enforcement efforts.

Public Comments

• No citizens came forward to speak during the public participation segment.

Agenda Summary Table