November 4, 2025 City Council Meeting

Announcements

• 📅 Stillwater Municipal Building Holiday Closure: The building will be closed on Thursday, November 28th (Thanksgiving Day) and Friday, November 29th, 2025. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead for city services.
• 📅 Stillwater Mayoral Election: A general election for City Councilor Number 5 (Mayor's seat) is called for Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. A runoff election, if needed, will be held on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. The candidate filing period is 📅 December 1st through December 3rd, 2025.
• 📅 Downtown Stillwater Holiday Events:
  • Parade of Lights: Thursday, December 4th, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Stillwater. Parade participant entry forms are due by 📅 Friday, November 14th, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
  • Holidays at Block 34: Saturday, December 6th, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Features holiday heroes, drone shows, Santa, ice skating on Irvy Lane, a snow globe photo op, and food vendors.
  • Payne County United Way Bean Bag Benefit (Cornhole Tournament): This Friday on Block 34. Check-in until noon, tournament begins at 1 p.m.
  • Ice Skating Rink: An ice rink will be available on Herby Lane for a couple of months this winter.
• Community Appreciation: Appreciation was extended to Our Daily Bread, its Executive Director Rachel Connley, and her team for their vital service in providing food security and essential items to the community.
• Sidewalk Improvement Reporting: Citizens are encouraged to report possible sidewalk improvement or maintenance needs via online reporting at stillwater.gov/sidewalkconnect (for new sidewalks) or stillwater.gov/requesttracker (for repairs).

Key Decisions & Votes

• Homelessness Awareness Month Proclamation: Mayor William Joyce read a proclamation declaring November 2025 as Homelessness Awareness Month in Stillwater, recognizing the Mission of Hope and urging community support.
• Consent Docket: The City Council approved the consent docket with a 5-0 vote.
• Specific Use Permit (1525 Southwestern Road): A request for a specific use permit to operate a healthcare and social assistance facility (kidney dialysis center) in a commercial shopping zoning district at 1525 Southwestern Road was approved with a 5-0 vote. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
• Text Amendment (Unit/Condominium Ownership): A text amendment to Chapter 23 of the Land Development Code, removing unit or condominium ownership as a regulated use, was approved with a 5-0 vote. This change allows unit ownership in any zoning district, provided state laws are followed. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
• Text Amendment (Sidewalk Cafe Regulations): A text amendment to Chapter 23 of the Land Development Code, amending regulations for sidewalk cafes to require the table service area to abut the building with at least 6 feet of unobstructed sidewalk outside the physical barrier, was approved with a 5-0 vote. This change aligns with best practices and the built environment. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
• Land Development Code Chapter 23 Update and Rewrite: The Council approved a professional services agreement not to exceed 💰 $110,000 with Civic Dynamics LLC for a comprehensive update and rewrite of the Land Development Code (Chapter 23), including related changes to Chapters 37 (streets) and 41 (utilities). The project is expected to take 12 months and will involve public input.
• Election Proclamation (Mayor's Seat): Resolution CC-2025-28, authorizing the Mayor to sign and issue an election proclamation for the Mayor's seat, was adopted with a 5-0 vote.
• Bridge Safety Inspection Responsibility: Resolution CC-2025-29, concerning the city's bridge safety inspection responsibility and notifying the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) of the selection of Consor North America as the consultant for inspections from April 1st, 2026, through March 31st, 2028, was adopted with a 5-0 vote. This is a routine inspection, fully funded by ODOT.
• Ordinance 3584 (Unit/Condominium Ownership): This ordinance, reflecting the text amendment for unit/condominium ownership, was advanced to second reading with a 5-0 vote.
• Ordinance 3585 (Sidewalk Cafe Regulations): This ordinance, reflecting the text amendment for sidewalk cafe regulations, was advanced to second reading with a 5-0 vote.
• Stillwater Utilities Authority (SUA) Consent Docket: The SUA approved its consent docket with a 5-0 vote.
• SUA Federal Advocacy Services Extension: The SUA approved an extension agreement (number three) with MMO Partners for federal advocacy services in the amount of 💰 $79,200, along with the associated budget amendment, with a 5-0 vote. MMO Partners provided an annual report on federal legislative activities, including a $30 million authorization for the city in the Water Resources Development Act and a $1 million appropriation in the House Interior Appropriations bill for the drinking water system.
• Stillwater Economic Development Authority (SEDA) Consent Docket: The SEDA approved its consent docket with a 5-0 vote.
• Executive Session: The City Council entered executive session to discuss the employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, or resignation of City Manager Brady Moore and City Attorney Kimberly Carley. No action was taken following the executive session.

Public Comments

• No public comments were received for the specific use permit or the text amendments during the public hearings.

Agenda Summary Table