December 2, 2025 City Council Meeting

Stillwater City Council Meeting Summary – 📅 December 1st, 2025

1. Announcements

• City Office Closures & Waste Management: City offices will be closed on 📅 Thursday, December 25th for Christmas and 📅 Thursday, January 1st for New Year's Day. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day during these weeks (e.g., Thursday pickup moves to Friday, Friday to Saturday).
• Christmas Tree Disposal: Residents can bundle live Christmas trees (decorations removed, bundles less than four feet long) and place them at the curb for free yard waste collection after the holidays.
• Utility Box Art Program Voting: Vote for your favorite utility box art program winners through 📅 Sunday, December 14th at stillwater.org. This year's theme is "Stillwater Strong."
• Rural Fire Service Contracts: Residents living outside city limits but within the Stillwater Fire Department's response area can purchase an annual contract for $200. This caps fire incident response fees at $2,000. More info at stillwater.gov/ruralfire.
• Stillwater Animal Welfare: Encourages citizens to "adopt, not shop" for furry friends this holiday season. Visit the Animal Welfare Building or their Facebook page.
• Upcoming Holiday Events:
  • Stillwater Parade of Lights: 📅 Thursday, December 4th, downtown Stillwater. Festivities begin at 6:30 PM, parade at 7:00 PM.
  • Festive Skies Holiday Heroes Drone Shows: 📅 Saturday, December 6th, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Block 34. Features choir caroling, pictures with Santa, ice skating, food vendors, and drone shows at 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

2. Detailed Sections

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Dockets: The consent dockets for the City Council, Stillwater Utilities Authority (SUA), and Stillwater Economic Development Authority (SEDA) were approved (4-0 votes for all).
• Rezoning at 7-Eleven South Ramsey Street (CC-25-165): The Council approved a map amendment to rezone property from small lot single-family residential (RSS) to two-family and multi-family (RTM). This aligns with the comprehensive plan and allows for a proposed multi-family development. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.
• Rezoning at 998 South Murphy Street (CC-25-166): The Council approved a map amendment to rezone property from a mix of small lot single-family residential (RSS) and commercial general (CG) to entirely Commercial General (CG). This change aligns with the future land use map and comprehensive plan, which calls for commercial use in this area. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.
• Text Amendment to Land Development Code Chapter 23 (CC-25-167): The Council approved a text amendment to the Land Development Code to modify the setback exception. The change allows properties to qualify for a 50% front yard setback reduction based on the right-of-way directly in front of their property (minimum 100 ft wide or 50 ft from centerline), rather than requiring the entire block to meet the criteria. It also expands the exception to apply to all zoning districts. This is an interim fix while a full code rewrite is underway. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval.
• Envision Stillwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan (CC-25-168): A public hearing was held for the first review of the updated comprehensive plan. The consultant presented an overview of the plan, which includes a new implementation chapter with 84 recommendations (47 identified as Priority 1), a full housing study, and a broader menu of land use categories. No action was taken at this meeting, as it was the first of two public hearings. A second public hearing and potential action to adopt the plan will occur on 📅 December 15th.
• Airport Parking Lot Plans (7A): Staff presented an overview of current and future parking at Stillwater Regional Airport. The plan includes two new parking lots, increasing total spots from 342 to approximately 500. Staff was directed to continue exploring revenue parking opportunities for Lots 1 and 2 (existing terminal lot and North Triangle lot), while ensuring ample free parking remains available in the larger FAA-funded Lot 3 and the gravel Lot 4.
• Award of Contracts for North Triangle Parking Lot (7B): The Council approved the award of contracts to Seymar Lippard Brothers Incorporated for Project Work Package #5, the North Triangle parking lot, for a guaranteed maximum price of 💰 $633,388. This lot is expected to be completed by the terminal opening, with an estimated 5-8 week closure for construction.
• Resolution for ODAA Airport Construction Program Grant (CC-2025-31): The Council adopted a resolution approving the submission of a grant application to the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) for the North Triangle parking lot. The estimated total project cost is 💰 $680,058, with ODAA providing 95% (💰 $646,482) and the City of Stillwater providing a 5% match (💰 $34,026).
• Resolution Authorizing Signatories for Depositories (CC-2025-32, SUA-2025-9, SEDA-2025-5): The Council, SUA, and SEDA each adopted an administrative resolution to update authorized signatories for depositories, primarily due to staffing changes in the municipal court.
• Stillwater Airport Advisory Board Appointments: The Council reappointed Derek Davies and Phil Thomas to new three-year terms on the Stillwater Airport Advisory Board, expiring in January 2029.

Financial Matters

• Airport Parking Lot Construction: The Council approved a partial guaranteed maximum price of 💰 $633,388 for the North Triangle parking lot construction.
• ODAA Airport Construction Program Grant: The Council approved applying for a state grant of 💰 $646,482 for the North Triangle parking lot, with a required city match of 💰 $34,026.
• Rural Fire Service Contracts: Annual fee of 💰 $200 to cap fire incident response fees at $2,000 for eligible residents outside city limits.

Public Comments

• Rezoning at 7-Eleven South Ramsey Street: Steven Ghost of Gosen Associates, representing the applicant, spoke in favor of the rezoning. No other public comments were received.
• Rezoning at 998 South Murphy Street: No public comments were received.
• Text Amendment to Land Development Code Chapter 23: Steven Ghost of Gosen Associates spoke in support of the text amendment, highlighting its benefit to the development community, especially for infill development in older parts of Stillwater. No other public comments were received.
• Envision Stillwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan: Don Thomas, the consultant from FIA Nichols, provided a detailed presentation on the comprehensive plan. No public comments were received from citizens.

3. Agenda Summary Table