Meeting Summary
The City Council approved a significant number of consent docket items, including several ordinances for upcoming bond elections and stormwater utility rates. A key decision was the adoption of an ordinance to decriminalize marijuana possession, aligning city code with state law by removing jail time and setting a maximum fine of $400. The resolution to establish a Charter Review Commission was amended to include a review of TIF districts and then postponed to a future meeting for further discussion on membership and scope.
Key Decisions & Votes
Consent Docket Approval
03:00Items 4 through 44 and 46, covering various administrative, zoning, financial, and contractual matters, were approved by a single unanimous motion.
Amendment to Charter Review Commission Resolution
20:00An amendment was added to the resolution establishing the Charter Review Commission, requiring it to consider adding language to the Charter to mandate a vote of the electorate for Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts authorizing over $5 million in project costs.
Postponement of Charter Review Commission Resolution
35:00The resolution to establish a Charter Review Commission was postponed until the February 26th meeting to allow for further discussion on potential committee members and the scope of review, particularly regarding utility rates.
Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance
49:30An ordinance was adopted on second and final reading, amending the city code to align with State Question 788, removing jail time for possession of marijuana, setting a maximum fine of $400, and clarifying the definition to exclude industrial hemp.
Upcoming Community Events
Coffee with a Cop
7:30 AM at Jam in historic downtown on Main Street.
Art Walk
Shop local and support merchants in historic downtown.
East Side Business Association Meeting (Education & Transportation Bonds)
9:00 AM at East Branch Library, with presentations from Superintendent Nick Miller and Public Works.
Chili Supper Benefit Dinner
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, $5 all-you-can-eat, benefits Cleveland County Christmas store.
Financial Matters
General Obligation Bonds for Streets and Bridges
Authorization for a special election on April 2nd to submit to voters the question of issuing GO bonds for street and bridge construction, widening, and improvement.
General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds for Economic and Community Development
Authorization for a special election on April 2nd to submit to voters the question of issuing GO limited tax bonds for economic and community development, including constructing, improving, and equipping stormwater drainage facilities.
Lakehurst Drive Drainage Improvement Project Contract
Bid approval for a contract with Central Contracting Services for the Lakehurst Drive drainage improvement project.
Donation from Antioch Community Church
Donation to be used by the Social and Voluntary Services Commission to support their mission of changing lives and making a difference for the less fortunate.
Special Claim by Brahms
Claim submitted by Brahms for damage to a metal overhang canopy as a result of an incident with a Parks Department vehicle.
Homeland Security Sub-Grantee Award
Acceptance of a sub-grantee award from the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security to purchase a replacement hazardous materials chemical identification unit for the Norman Fire Department.
FYE 2018 Concrete Sidewalk Projects Change Order
Change order decreasing the contract amount with MTZ Construction for the FYE 2018 concrete sidewalk projects.
Main Street Paving Project Change Order
Change order increasing the contract amount with Rudy's Construction for the Main Street paving project from Jones to Porter.
Burlington Drive Drainage Improvement Project Change Order
Change order increasing the contract amount with MTZ Construction for the Burlington Drive drainage improvement project.
Legacy Parks Lawn Care Contract
Contract with Pitzer Lawn Management to provide lawn care for Legacy Parks.
Biogas Investigation Contract
Contract with Integrity Energy Partners to provide investigation into the possibility of selling gesture biogas, with budget appropriation from the water reclamation fund.
Dockless Scooter License Agreements (Bird, Gotcha, Neutron)
Revocable license agreements allowing deployment of no more than 150 dockless scooters with the public rights-of-way.
Sanitation Division Pickup Truck Purchase
Appropriation from the sanitation fund balance to purchase one pickup truck for the sanitation division to replace a stolen truck.
Workers Compensation Settlement (William Atteberry)
Resolution authorizing compromise settlement of claims filed by William Atteberry in a Workers Compensation Commission case.
Civil Appeals Court Case Settlement (Robert Forest Green)
City Attorney's recommendation that City Council approve the settlement of Robert Forest Green versus the City of Norman, Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals case.
Preliminary January Sales Tax Receipts
Reported a 3.93% increase in November sales tax over the previous year, bringing the fiscal year-to-date increase to 3.21%.
Public Comments
Public comments included inquiries about the city bus situation, an urgent plea for the groundbreaking of a new swim club pool, a citizen expressing interest in a sustainability director role, and extensive discussion regarding the Charter Review Commission, particularly the proposal to remove citizen voting on utility rates and suggestions for new committee members. Concerns were also raised about the proposed fine for marijuana possession and the process for hiring a new city manager.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Resolution establishing a Charter Review Commission (postponed to February 26th meeting).
Deadlines
- Special Election on April 2nd for General Obligation Bonds for streets/bridges and economic/community development, and for stormwater utility rates.
- HERS pilot program continues through June 30th, 2019.
Watch For
- Update on the Senior Center and Indoor Aquatic Center land agreement (next Tuesday study session).
- Upcoming vote on the stormwater utility.
- Progress on Norman Forward projects: Aquatic Center, Senior Center, and indoor multi-sport facility.
- Continued discussion on the noise ordinance (Oversight Committee meeting this Thursday).
- Discussions on an incentive program for low impact development and affordable housing (Community Planning and Transportation Committee meeting Jan 15th).
- Further clarification on the marijuana paraphernalia ordinance.
- Future discussions on potentially lowering marijuana possession fines.
- Discussions on transportation bond projects for Ward 7, including the Lindsay and Elm Street stormwater project and Jenkins Avenue improvements.
- Education bond election on February 12th.
Announcements
- Coffee with a Cop will be held on January 9th at 7:30 AM at Jam in historic downtown on Main Street.
- Art Walk will take place this Friday night in historic downtown.
- The Community Planning and Transportation Committee will meet on January 15th at 4:00 PM at City Hall to discuss an incentive program for low impact development and affordable housing.
- The East Side Business Association will host a meeting on January 17th at 9:00 AM at the East Branch Library with presentations on education and transportation bonds.
- A Chili Supper benefit dinner with the Norman Police Department will be held on January 17th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, with $5 all-you-can-eat chili, benefiting the Cleveland County Christmas store.
- The Oversight Committee will meet this Thursday to continue discussion on the noise ordinance.
- A Ward 5 meeting will be held this Saturday at 10:30 AM at Thunderbird Baptist Church to discuss stormwater.
- A Ward 8 meeting will be held on January 27th from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at Fire Station 7 to discuss stormwater.
- Draining of the Legacy Park pond has begun for maintenance and installation of permanent wildlife safety ramps, with completion and refill expected by early March.
- Preliminary January sales tax receipts for November sales show a 3.93% increase over the previous year, bringing the fiscal year-to-date increase to 3.21%.
Agenda Summary
Items 4-44 and 46 (Consent Docket)
Approval of various City Council conference minutes, special session minutes, NUA/NMA/NTIF minutes; ordinances upon first reading for rezoning properties, closing utility easements, granting special use permits, and authorizing special elections for general obligation bonds for streets/bridges and economic/community development; ordinances establishing monthly stormwater utility rates; consideration of appointments, financial reports, departmental reports, and change order reports; bid approvals for contracts; acceptance of easements and donations; special claims; sub-grantee awards; change orders for construction projects; contracts for lawn care and biogas investigation; dockless scooter license agreements; and resolutions for a Census Complete Count Committee, building permit fee incentives, sanitation truck purchase, workers compensation settlement, and regional transportation authority appointment, and a civil appeals court case settlement.
Item 45: Resolution establishing a Charter Review Commission
Resolution to establish a Charter Review Commission for the purpose of conducting a targeted review of the Norman City Charter. An amendment was adopted to include consideration of adding language to the Charter to require a vote of the electorate prior to establishing a tax increment finance district that authorizes over five million dollars in project costs.
Item 47: Ordinance amending the city code to conform to state regulations concerning the penalties, definition, and possession of marijuana
Ordinance amending city code in Chapters 14 and 15 to align with State Question 788, removing jail time for possession of marijuana, setting a maximum fine not to exceed $400, clarifying the definition to exclude industrial hemp, and maintaining a 'sign and go' policy for citations.