December 2, 2025 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• City Office Closures & Waste Management: City offices will be closed on 📅 Thursday, December 25th, 2025, for Christmas and 📅 Thursday, January 1st, 2026, 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 with live Christmas trees can bundle them (decorations removed, less than 4ft long) and place them at the curb for free yard waste collection after the holidays. More info: stillwater.gov/wastemanagement.
• Utility Box Art Program Voting: Vote for your favorite utility box art program winners (theme: Stillwater Strong) through 📅 Sunday, December 14th, 2025. The Stillwater Public Art Committee has narrowed entries to 10; the community will select the top five. Vote at stillwater.org.
• Rural Fire Service Contracts: Residents living outside city limits but within the Stillwater Fire Department's response area can purchase an annual rural fire service contract for 💰 $200. This caps response fees at $2,000 per incident. Without a contract, full fees apply. More info: stillwater.gov/ruralfire or call 405-742-8308.
• Stillwater Animal Welfare: This holiday season, Stillwater Animal Welfare encourages adoption over shopping for pets. Visit the Animal Welfare Building at 1710 South Main Street, follow them on Facebook, or call 405-372-3344 for updates on available animals and health guidance.
• Upcoming Holiday Events:
  • Stillwater Parade of Lights: 📅 Thursday, December 4th, 2025, in downtown Stillwater. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with candy and music, parade starts at 7:00 p.m.
  • Festive Skies Holiday Heroes Drone Shows: 📅 Saturday, December 6th, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Block 34. Features Stillwater High School choir, pictures with Santa, ice skating, snow globes, food vendors, and two drone shows at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Key Decisions & Votes

• Consent Dockets Approved: The consent dockets for the City Council, Stillwater Utilities Authority (SUA), and Stillwater Economic Development Authority (SEDA) were approved by a vote of 4-0 for each.
• Rezoning 7-Eleven South Ramsey Street (CC-25-165): The request to rezone property at 7-Eleven South Ramsey Street from Small Lot Single Family Residential (RSS) to Residential Two-Family and Multifamily (RTM) was approved (4-0 vote) and advanced to second reading. This aligns with the comprehensive plan's high-density residential designation for the area.
• Rezoning 998 South Murphy Street (CC-25-166): The request to rezone property at 998 South Murphy Street from Small Lot Single Family Residential (RSS) and Commercial General (CG) to Commercial General (CG) was approved (4-0 vote) and advanced to second reading. This change clarifies the zoning to align with the 2011 Planned Unit Development (PUD) preliminary plan for commercial use and the comprehensive plan's commercial designation.
• Text Amendment to Land Development Code (CC-25-167): An ordinance amending Chapter 23 (Land Development Code) to add a setback exception was approved (4-0 vote) and advanced to second reading. This amendment allows for a 50% reduction in front yard setbacks for properties on local streets with 100 feet of right-of-way (or 50 feet from the centerline to the property line) directly in front of the property, rather than requiring continuous right-of-way for the entire block. This change aims to support infill development and is considered a "band-aid" fix while a larger code rewrite is underway.
• Airport Parking Lot Plans Discussion: Staff presented an overview of current and future parking at Stillwater Regional Airport. Plans include two new parking lots (North Triangle and a larger FAA-funded lot) and improvements to existing ones, increasing total spots from 342 to approximately 500. Staff was directed to continue researching revenue parking opportunities for Lots 1 and 2, while Lots 3 (FAA-funded) and 4 (gravel lot) will remain free.
• Award of Contracts for North Triangle Parking Lot (7B): The award of contracts to Seymar Liberts for Project Work Package Number 5, the North Triangle parking lot, was approved (4-0 vote). This includes Amendment Number 5 to the Seymar agreement, with a guaranteed maximum price of 💰 $633,380. Construction is expected to close the lot for 5-8 weeks, starting as early as January or February, with a goal to reopen before spring break.
• Resolution for ODAA Airport Construction Program Grant (CC-2025-31): A resolution approving the submission of an application for an Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) airport construction program grant for the North Triangle parking lot was adopted (4-0 vote). The estimated total project cost is 💰 $680,508, 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, CEDA-2025-5): Resolutions authorizing signatories for depositories for the City Council, SUA, and SEDA were adopted (4-0 vote for each). These are administrative changes due to staffing changes, primarily for the municipal court.
• Stillwater Airport Advisory Board Reappointments: Derek Davies and Phil Thomas were reappointed (4-0 vote) to new three-year terms on the Stillwater Airport Advisory Board, expiring in 📅 January 2029.

Public Comments

• Rezoning 7-Eleven South Ramsey Street (CC-25-165): Steven Ghost of Gosen Associates, representing the applicant, spoke in favor of the rezoning, noting it would align the property with surrounding multifamily zoning. No public opposition was voiced.
• Rezoning 998 South Murphy Street (CC-25-166): No public comments were received on this item.
• Text Amendment to Land Development Code (CC-25-167): Steven Ghost of Gosen Associates spoke in support of the text amendment, stating that the development community and builders support it, as it will help with infill development in older parts of Stillwater. No public opposition was voiced.
• Envision Stillwater 2045 Comprehensive Plan (CC-25-168): Don Thomas, a consultant with Fresa Nichols, presented an overview of the updated comprehensive plan. No public comments were received during this first public hearing. A second public hearing is scheduled for 📅 December 15th, 2025, where action may be taken.

Agenda Summary Table