September 8, 2011 City Commission Meeting

The Shawnee City Commissioners met on 📅 September 6, 2011, for a regular session, followed by meetings of the Shawnee Municipal Authority (SMA) and Shawnee Airport Authority (SAA), and a special called meeting for a public hearing on proposed capital improvement projects.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Agenda Approval: The meeting agenda was ✅ Approved.
• Consent Agenda: The consent agenda was ✅ Approved, with item 2e pulled for separate discussion.
• Item 2e (Pulled from Consent Agenda): This item was ⏸️ Tabled until requested information becomes available to the attorney.
• Lake Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project (Item 5a): Bids for the project were opened, with the lowest bid at $630,319.30, significantly higher than the consultant's estimate of $458,000. The item was ⏸️ Deferred to the next couple of meetings to assess funding.
• Rehabilitate Runway 17-35 (Item 5b): The award for this project was ⏸️ Deferred again, pending the grant award from the FAA.
• Beard Street Widening Project (Item 5c): The project was ✅ Awarded to All Roads Paving Inc. for 💰 $367,732.70, as the low bid was within the budgeted amount.
• Instruct Staff to Prepare Election Documents (Item 11): The Commission voted to ⏸️ Continue discussion on the proposed capital improvement projects, with consideration for an election on 📅 February 7, 2012. This was not a formal call for election but an instruction to staff to prepare documents and continue dialogue.
• Engage Bond and Financial Counsel (Item 12): This item was ❌ Pulled, with no action taken, as commissioners decided to refine project plans before engaging counsel.

Financial Matters

• Projected Capital Improvement Costs: Mayor Peterson outlined a 💰 $50 million proposal:
  • 💰 $30 million from a proposed property tax increase for: Expo improvements ($8M), Public Safety ($8M), Road & Street improvements ($5M), Economic Development ($5M), Aquatic Center ($3M), Neighborhood Revitalization ($1M), and Sidewalk extensions ($1M).
  • 💰 $20 million from a proposed half-percent sales tax for 10 years, dedicated to a 160-acre sports park.
• Street Maintenance Budget: City Engineer John Krewicki noted the annual street budget of 💰 $2.1-$2.3 million primarily covers ongoing maintenance, not major arterial street improvements.
• Radio System Upgrades: Emergency Management Director Don Lynch detailed costs for public safety radio system upgrades: 💰 $50,000 for the existing repeater site, 💰 $1.15 million for a new north tower, and 💰 $500,000 for subscriber units.
• Police Facility Needs: Lt. Mason Wilson presented an estimated 💰 $7 million cost for a new police facility to meet future needs, based on current costs.
• Public Concerns: Citizens expressed concerns about unfunded pension liabilities, the rising cost of water services, and the overall financial burden of the proposed projects, particularly the 💰 $20 million sports park.

Public Comments

• Sports Complex Support: Scott Warren spoke in favor of the sports complex, emphasizing its potential to foster growth for youth sports associations that currently lack adequate facilities.
• Wheelchair-Accessible Van Issues: Retired police officer Jeff Rogers detailed ongoing mechanical failures with his 2001 wheelchair-accessible van, highlighting the critical need for a replacement and questioning the city's priorities regarding his long-standing request.
• Water Infrastructure Neglect: Warren Rutherford raised concerns about the lack of investment in renovating and replacing Shawnee's aging water lines, suggesting modern, cost-effective methods like plastic pipe insertion.
• Financial & Election Timing Concerns: Fred Turner voiced strong concerns about the city's unfunded pension liabilities (estimated at 💰 $8-16 million for non-union employees, with police/fire even higher). He criticized the timing of a potential November 8th election for projects, given that an economic viability report from OSU for the sports park wouldn't be ready until October. He advocated for delaying the vote until at least February and allowing citizens to vote on individual projects.
• Tax Burden & Police Facility Size: Sandra Spurgeon supported street and police communication improvements but questioned the necessity of a 36,000 sq ft police facility, citing Shawnee's stable population and concerns about excessive property tax increases.
• Sidewalk Importance: Shauna Turner stressed the importance of including sidewalks in all street projects, especially those near schools.
• Project Prioritization & Affordability: Linda Agee argued that essential projects (streets, sidewalks, public safety) should be prioritized and funded economically without a property tax increase. She cited recent water rate hikes, drought concerns, and past city employee layoffs as reasons why citizens cannot afford a 💰 $50 million package, especially a 💰 $20 million park.
• Unfulfilled Downtown Promises: Theresa Cody, a downtown business owner, expressed frustration over past unfulfilled promises for downtown revitalization projects funded by a sales tax increase 10 years prior. She urged scrutiny of current proposals to avoid "pork belly projects."
• Downtown Utility & Project Returns: Becky Shackleford echoed concerns about the sports complex's financial viability and highlighted critical issues with downtown utility lines affecting fire access and business operations. She called for prioritizing projects that offer tangible returns for tax dollars.
• Project Costs & Scope: Tom Claybrook questioned the allocation of 💰 $5 million for streets and 💰 $5 million for a new police department, arguing that water line replacement is a more pressing need. He believed the sports complex could be built for 💰 $10 million instead of 💰 $20 million, fearing the current "larded up" proposal would fail.
• Senior Citizens & City Growth: Sam Vasquez, a long-time resident, spoke about the impact of rising costs on senior citizens and noted Oklahoma City's eastward expansion, suggesting Shawnee needs to strategically plan for its future.

Agenda Summary Table